Channel 7 commentator and AFL great Brian Taylor has revealed his car was stolen in a home invasion.
Brian, wife Tanya and sons Harrison and Jesse were all asleep at their house in Fitzroy when the brazen robbery took place.
Brian and Harrison shared details of the scary incident on their podcast, Life of Brian.
Analysis, local footy and the biggest moments, Seven and 7plus are the home of footy shows for every fan. Stream them all for free on 7plus >>
Harrison set the scene by explaining how his day unfolded.
“During that day I had my Christmas party, it was a great event, went from around midday to eight o’clock. After that I was lucky enough to score some tickets to Eric Prydz … went to that, had a great night, wasn’t overly pissed or anything, he said.
“Was home around 11:30pm, came inside and probably head on the pillow just after 12.
“The next thing I know, Tanya Taylor (mum) comes into my room, we’re all asleep, the guard dog didn’t do much this particular night … Tanya comes into my room saying someone’s stolen all our keys, dad’s car’s gone, my handbag’s gone, blah blah, real tears. I’m half asleep wondering what the hell is going on.”
Brian’s Toyota LandCruiser Sahara was missing, along with Jesse’s wallet and a bunch of sneakers.
Brian then picked up the story, revealing details of how they waited for the perpetrator to return.
“About 3am in the morning, everyone is up in bed and we have a sense that because all of the keys to all of the cars have gone and only one car has physically gone and we had a sense they’d come back for the other cars,’’ he said.
“We hid in ambush at three o’clock in the morning, peering around corners waiting for someone to come back with the key fob and press unlock and then we would then be able to see and grab the guy.
“It was a strange ute that pulled up in the street and hovered around there … just a weird sort of set up.”
Tanya was on the phone reporting the crime to the police when Harrison and Jesse sprung into action.
“I was peering out the garage door and had eyes on the car because we thought this might happen and the amber lights went off and Jesse and I immediately went sprinting out to the car,” Harrison said.
“Jesse legged it after the guy down Brunswick Street and I went down Johnston Street and we met up just after the 7-Eleven there.
“He had pulled in, either he was submitting or I don’t know what he was doing.”
Brian then chimed in, “you made a citizen’s arrest and really in the end, he’s been exonerated.”
Although Harrison wasn’t convinced.
“He has been exonerated, he had an alibi and I don’t think he’s the guy, although I’m still suspicious,” he said.
Brian got his car back the next day after it was abandoned 600m down the road.
The family then discussed whether they should refrain from leaving their keys on the kitchen table in the future.
“The question is would we and should we leave all of our keys on the kitchen table so that if someone invades our privacy again, they can just take the keys and the cars and therefore they don’t stab us,” Brian said.
“Or do we take the keys and put them in the bedroom with each individual and therefore they will come into the bedroom to steal the keys next time.
“It is a bit of a quandary.”
