Knife-wielding intruders rob octogenarian founder of Ugg boot empire in his bed as crime wave overwhelms surf town!

"Our community is increasingly concerned about the burglaries, car thefts and home invasions in Crescent Head. In some cases, weapons have been used to threaten residents in their own homes."

It’s pretty hard to do anything but rain praise on Shane Stedman, the octogenarian inventor of the sheepskin Ugg boot, a stallion whose spasming scrotum has hovered above innumerable liver-lipped snares, and who was recently honoured with an Order of Australia medal for services to surfing.

A few years back, just after he turned eighty, Shane had surgery to remove “balloons” in his chest. These growths squashed his lungs, reducing his ability to breathe by eighty-five percent.

That same year he sold the Mona Vale house where he raised the noted pro surfer and jiujitsu expert Luke Stedman and moved back up to Crescent Head, five hours north, where he was born.

Crescent Head, if you didn’t know, has a slow point break, which is popular with longboarders and Great White sharks, sometimes both at the same time, and miles of beachbreaks that can get pretty dang good.

It’s also become a hot spot for crime with the area’s Mayor writing a letter to the state’s Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism asking for a little help.

In part,

I write to bring to your attention the severe escalation of youth crime across the Kempsey Shire, and to seek your support for the implementation of 24-hour Police staffing in South West Rocks and Crescent Head communities to help mitigate the serious public safety situation that exists.
Current Escalation in Crime

Our community is growing increasingly concerned about the ongoing serious incidents of burglaries, car thefts and home invasions that have occurred across the Shire, particularly in South West Rocks and Crescent Head. In some cases, weapons have been used to threaten residents in their own homes and businesses and it is evident that a greater Police presence is urgently needed.

Shane Stedman is the latest victim in the crime wave. He was robbed at knife point at three am in his bed and his brand new Toyota Sahara, a 150k whip, was stolen and later found burned out.

On Facebook Shane wrote:

Impossible to recognise as my ‘top of the range’ Toyota Landcruiser Sahara 300 series, with a little over 10,000kms on the clock. At 3am a few weeks ago, I was rudely awakened with a torch in my face, and a demanding voice “where’s your money – where’s your money”. I quickly yelled “I don’t have any”, and by the time I got out of my recliner sleeping chair, the 3 intruders had grabbed Jenny’s handbag with phone, cards etc and stolen both of our cars.
Good thing I have a strong heart!!