Christmas grinch steals presents from car parked outside Stirlings Central shopping centre

About 15 minutes was all it took for thieves to steal Christmas presents from a car parked near the Stirlings Central shopping centre, and get away.

Geraldton man Warren Gilchrist said he and his partner were shocked to find gifts bought for family and friends had been stolen from their car on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Gilchrist parked a Toyota Hilux at the shopping centre about 5.30pm and locked it, but left a window open, thinking it wouldn’t matter because he’d only be gone for a few minutes.

About 5.45pm he returned to find his partner’s Nintendo Switch had been stolen, as well as the gifts.

Mr Gilchrist said they had not been able to recover any of the stolen items. Geraldton police said they were waiting to review CCTV footage of the incident and the matter was under investigation

“I usually always put the windows up, but I thought we won’t be long,” he said.

“That one time you don’t do it. I was pretty bummed.

“I did a lap around town because I thought they couldn’t be far, but they got away.”

Mr Gilchrist said they had not been able to recover any of the stolen items.

Geraldton police said it was waiting to review CCTV footage of the incident and the matter was under investigation.