A 'SCUMBAG' who stole a Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie donation tin from a Blacksmiths hardware shop in the same week volunteers spent hours searching for missing boatie Luke Smith has copped the ire of locals. Login or signup to continue reading Blacksmiths Home Timber and Hardware owner Vanessa Marshall said she felt sick when she realised someone had helped themselves to the donation tin. "It's one thing to steal, but you don't steal charity tins, you just don't," she said.
"What sort of person does that? "Everyone just straight away felt sick." The theft took place on Friday afternoon, and within 15 minutes staff noticed that the boat-shaped tin that raises funds for Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie had disappeared. A review of CCTV footage showed a man walking out with the tin tucked into his jacket.
Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie members are volunteers, who man the radio base at Swansea Heads on a 24-hour schedule every day of the year. For the past week crews have spent countless hours combing Lake Macquarie looking for missing fisherman Luke Smith. Mr Smith, 23, was fishing on board a tinny in the Swansea Channel on July 6 when it hit a buoy in the dark and flipped, throwing him and his three mates into the water.
The three men, two aged 23 and one aged 20, were able to make it to shore. It is understood Mr Smith tried to help his friend to safety before he disappeared. He hasn't been seen since.
Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie unit commander Jim Wright said he was disappointed .