Vic surfer turns detective to nab board thief
A Melbourne man has used his own detective skills and some extraordinary luck to track down his two stolen surfboards.
Security cameras captured the moment a criminal's luck dried up as he tried to sell two surfboards hours after they had been stolen from Ross Moresi.
Ross called police and sent alerts to surf shops when he realised his boards were missing.
Then Daniel Byrne, of St Kilda West, walked into Zak Surfboards in Thornbury.
He sold the boards, worth around $2000, for $525.
"He seemed really normal, drove a nice car, and you know was happy to hand over his licence details," said store worker Damien Bailey.
When the store later realised the boards belonged to Ross, they called to give him the good news.
The store also handed over Daniel Byrne's details to pass onto police.
Then, the chance encounter of a lifetime.
As Ross waited at the counter at Prahran police station last night, a man was reporting on bail.
"He was spelling out his name," Ross said. "I looked down and I had that name written on a piece of paper."
"It was the guy.
"I looked at him and just said 'it's your unlucky day mate'.
"They pretty much told him you're under arrest."
It will still be a few days before Ross can get his hands and feet back on his boards, but once he does, he won't be waiting long to hit the waves.
Byrne today pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and other charges.
