THIEVES who broke into Eric Satchell's garage have no respect for the law but they clearly also lack empathy.
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Like many victims of theft, Mr Satchell had his own home invaded and property stolen he had worked hard to buy or that was of sentimental value to him. But what set this incident apart was what this man and his family have already gone through.
Seven years ago, Mr Satchell's wife Val suffered critical injuries in an accident that have left her in a Dubbo high-care facility. A devoted husband, Mr Satchell several times in recent weeks had planned visits to his wife disrupted by thieves, vandals and the subsequent nuisance of having to have locks and smashed windows replaced and fingerprints collected.
Yet the tragedy that had unfolded in Mr Satchell's life was of no concern to these selfish intruders when they smashed their way into his garage and made off with his things. It is obviously unfair to tar all of his neighbourhood's residents with the same brush.
There are those who will perpetrate these disgusting low acts and those who know it's happening but keep quiet about it so as not to incriminate their children, siblings or their mates, but there are those law-abiding residents who work hard to buy and own their own things. The latter are having to put up with selfish, bad behaviour far too often.
Last week West Dubbo residents welcomed the news mail deliveries would resume given the decrease in crime and antisocial behaviour there in the past year.
But that is cold comfort for Mr Satchell at the moment, and this latest incident shows there is still some way to go. Mr Satchell may get his mail delivery service back, but it remains to be seen whether he'll ever see any of his tools again.