A phone call at 3.30am would be enough to annoy most people, but to Hannah Altinier it was music to her ears.
The call was from the police letting her know they had found her car, which had been stolen two and a half weeks ago from Cannington train station while Ms Altinier was attending TAFE for the day.
More than just a car, the canary-yellow Toyota Corona had sentimental value as it had her late grandmother’s 40-year-old number plates on it.
“The police called me at 3.30am on Saturday morning and they told me that they had found my car and if I could come down to Langford,” she said.
“When I got there they told me to wait in the car because there was a person in handcuffs and they didn’t want me to see him.
“There were multiple other cars in the yard that were allegedly stolen, according to police.”
Ms Altinier said a tow truck was quickly sent to the address to tow her car away.
“The police said they were shocked at the condition it was in,” she said.
“There were no dents, but all of my belongings were gone.
“The original 1984 owner’s manual was gone and some clothes, figurines and the hub caps, trimming and the Corona badge was gone and replaced with a Corolla badge to make it look like a Corolla, which was amazing.”
Ms Altinier said she could not have found the sentimental car without the help of police and other agencies.
“The Cannington Police and the Department of Transport were really amazing,” she said.
“They stumbled upon it but as soon as they did they called me and I was happy to come down and get it no matter time it was, but the main thing I got the car back in one piece.”
Hannah said she had worked hard to buy the car in the first place, having bought it for $4500 from a seller in Queensland and had it transported to Perth.
“I’m on top of the world, I feel so lucky, like it’s a miracle,” she said.
“I’ve had so many people tell me they’ve been in a similar situation and have either lost their car or haven’t had such a good outcome as I have.
“The only sad part about it was my grandmother’s plates weren’t recovered but when I get my car back, hopefully I can sort it out as I have had the plates in our family for so long.”
Ms Altinier said she is hoping to be reunited with the car by the end of the week.
