EL XR8 Recovered - Network finds pride and joy

[Bobman]

From the Knox Leader.

FACEBOOK has saved Christmas for a Boronia family traumatised by a brazen theft in a busy carpark.

Anthony Pattison was reunited with his stolen white 1998 Ford XR8 ute at Calder Park Raceway on Sunday, December 6 after a stranger noticed his wife’s plea on the popular social networking site.

Two days earlier, the 35-year-old handyman was left horrified to find the $ 14,000 car stolen from the Keilor raceway carpark, after treating his six-year-old son Jack to his first night out at the popular venue.

‘‘ I couldn’t believe it, it was such a bad feeling, and Jack was really upset about it,’’ Mr Pattison said.

Catching a ride home with a friend, Mr Pattison started scouring eBay for a replacement, while wife Kylie Craig posted a message on Facebook group Calder Park Raceway explaining what had happened.

‘‘ By Sunday, I was about to head out the door to make on offer for this car I’d seen on eBay, using the money for our Christmas savings,’’ he said.

But just before they walked out the door, Ms Craig checked the site to find a message from Melton South man Greg Dickson, who had seen their plea and noticed the car abandoned at another section of the raceway that morning.

In complete disbelief, the family – which also includes one-year-old son Jett – rushed out to find the car had ploughed through a fence, but was miraculously in good condition.

And better still, all Mr Pattison’s tools were still in the back. ‘‘ I was just blown away,’’ Mr Pattison said. ‘‘ I don’t know what they did with it, but they must have been trying to avoid going out the main exit.’’ Mr Dickson said he was happy to help the family weeks before Christmas, but described the find as ‘‘ freaky’’.