A victim of robbery and car theft is the recipient of a vehicle restored by the latest graduates of the U-Turn program.

Through U-Turn, young people aged 15 – 20, who have been identified as at risk of becoming involved in motor vehicle theft, are engaged in hands-on mechanical training, spray painting and car body work over a 10-week period. The project also addresses life skills, personal development, literacy and numeracy tuition as well as road safety education.

The end result is a restored car, which the graduates present to a member of the community who has been a victim of car theft.  For the past 10 weeks these eight young people have focused their passion for cars into restoring a ‘Christmas Red’ Holden Barina.  The vehicle will today be presented to a business owner who was robbed and her car stolen in Glenorchy on 30 September.

Jung Ah Kim had finished work at the Northgate take-away food shop she runs with her husband, and was driving home with the daily takings of the business.  She was about 100 metres from her house when a stolen vehicle crashed into the rear of her car. 

As a shaken Mrs Kim got out of her car after the crash, the offender left the stolen car, told her he needed to move her car off the road, got into her car and then drove off, taking not only the car but also the cash from the business. 

The car was later found, burnt out.  Mrs Kim had only 3rd party insurance and does not have the funds to replace the car.  Glenorchy Police are still investigating the robbery.

Today Mrs Kim will be presented with the Barina Hatch which has been restored by the graduates of U-Turn Course 36. 

“Project U-Turn provides a unique opportunity for young people to learn new skills and use those skills to restore a vehicle for someone who has been the victim of motor vehicle theft,” said the Commissioner of Police, Darren Hine.

“The graduates are to be congratulated for their dedication to the course.  They can be proud of their achievement and the knowledge that it will help them with future employment and education opportunities,” said Mr Hine.

While the U-Turn program is conducted in the workshop in Moonah, a supported accommodation service is available to enable young people from other parts of the State to participate in the program. The program is delivered by Mission Australia, under contract to Tasmania Police, and is funded by the State Government.

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