Family Pelted by Gourmet Foods

This article is like an Odgen Nash poem with the pickles over the pergola corn relish on the car, black bean sauce on the shed. I’m glad it has photos. I read an article about practical jokers in like Idaho or wherever who decorated their neighbors lawn with hundreds of plastic forks, nice story, better and more credible with photos.

Family in a Jam
www.messengersouth.com.au | Jessica Whiting | 03Jun08

Jars of jam, dead flounder, fish guts and canned soups have all been thrown at an Aberfoyle Park house during a spate of bizarre attacks by gourmet vandals.
Bob Baird, his wife Julie and children Chris and Kylie are searching for answers as to why the family home has been hit six times since February.

“The type of food is a bit unusual in itself … Masterfood sauces, Beerenberg jams and canned soup,” Mr Baird said.

In the latest attack, on May 20, vandals threw nine flounder at the house and spread fish guts over the front yard.

“It’s not a particularly cheap fish. It’s a real waste of food,” he said.

In other attacks:

February: In the first attack, food is smeared on the shed and a jar of pickles thrown over the pergola. Two weeks later cheese sauce is smeared on the shed;

March: In early March, bean mix and sauce are dumped on the car.

Two weeks later black bean sauce and canned soup is thrown at the shed and a bottle of relish thrown over the house into the pool, and;

April 29: Homemade food, Beerenberg jam and corn relish are spread over the car.

Mr Baird said while he remained “absolutely baffled” by the attacks, he feared his family might be the victim of mistaken identity.

The only clue the vandals have left is a note taped to their car after the April 29 attack saying:

“Pay my insurance or else.” “I’ve spoken to the wife and kids and they can’t think of any reason whatsoever,” he said.

“They haven’t upset anyone, or had an argument with anyone.

“It must be mistaken identity … they’ve got the wrong place, the wrong people.

“My concern is how far they are prepared to go.”

The family has installed sensor lights and a security camera at the front of their home.

Mr Baird said they had contacted police, but there “is not a lot they can do”.