Generous radio listeners have donated to an elderly Pinjarra man who was targeted by a “heartless thief” on Tuesday.
New Guinea war veteran Ernie Haynes was approached by a doorknocker at his Humphrey Street home on Tuesday about 11:20am.
The 91-year-old man described the thief as a well-spoken teenager asked for a glass of milk, which the humble Mr Haynes swiftly offered him.
“I just welcomed him in and he wanted a cup of milk,” Mr Haynes said.
“I said ‘a cup of milk’s not much good to ya’. So I grabbed a bottle and shared a bottle with him.
“He took his half bottle with him and that was it.”
While Mr Haynes fixed the young chap a beverage the teenage allegedly swooped in and took Mr Haynes’ wallet, which contained $1500 cash from a recent trip to the bank.
Perth-based radio station 6PR told of Mr Haynes ordeal during their breakfast program.
Callers were quick to respond, raising $500 to replace the stolen money.
A further $1000 of prize money was chipped into the cause after host Basil Zempilas answered all the station’s Window and Door Replacement Thousand Dollar Minute quiz.
Mr Haynes has lived at the residence for 32 years.
It took Mr Haynes until the next day to figure out his wallet was stolen, when his neighbour Wayne Cowcher came over for his daily “cuppa”.
Mr Haynes told his neighbour about the young man stopping in, Mr Cowcher immediately asked his elderly friend where his wallet was.
“That was the first thing Wayne said. I had a look and I didn’t have a wallet,” Mr Haynes said.
Mr Cowcher’s wife Sharon said the couple had lived next to Mr Haynes for the last 20 years and over that time had grown fond of him.
“Wayne goes for a cuppa with him every morning,” Ms Cowcher said.
The man was caught on the Cowcher’s CCTV camera, fitted on their roof.
Ms Cowcher had to trawl through the footage for hours to find the incident as Mr Haynes couldn’t remember exactly when the doorknocker visited.
The couple have released the footage to the police and media in a hope the thief is identified.
“Hopefully a few people recognise him,” Ms Cowcher said.
Mr Haynes daughter Mary Hennessy said the theft was “heartless” and thanked radio listeners for their generosity.
“That’s marvelous for people to do that sort of thing,” Ms Hennessy said.
Mr Haynes said he may take more precautions and secure his house in the future.
Mr Haynes served in New Guinea for more than two and a half years.
