Kids in care targeted
A GOLD Coast charity has been left devastated after heartless thieves stole thousands of dollars’ worth of clothes and backpacks to be given to vulnerable children.
The items were stolen on Wednesday night from a trailer used for storage by For Kids In Care. The trailer was being kept at an Oxenford yard belonging to a local business, which assists the charity.
Jane Padden said the stolen goods were to be given to children taken into residential care for the first time.
“We get them a brand new backpack, T-shirts, caps, pyjamas, things like that,” Ms Padden said. “Sometimes these kids come with absolutely nothing, literally just the clothes on their back.”
Ms Padden started the charity in 2014 to provide Christmas presents for children in care, funded with money raised from donors and events such as its annual Santa JetSki Ride. The charity expanded in the past two years to extend help to children throughout the year.
“It (the theft) is just heartbreaking,” Ms Padden said. “We’d done the Christmas event, but throughout the year we give backpacks to kids who go into residential care. That’s all of the stuff they’ve taken.” Ms Padden said the trailer was unusually full because after helping 546 children at Christmas, they had taken advantage of January sales to stock up.
“We did a massive campaign for Christmas this year and got through that,” Ms Padden said. “Then because of the sales we got some great backpacks and extra T-shirts, so we had quite a bit of stock.
“It was in a secure yard that was padlocked, with Colorbond fencing, and on top of that metal Colorbond is three layers of barbed wire. So it was in a really secure area, and yet they still got in there. I can’t put a figure on it … but I reckon between $5000-$8000 worth has been stolen.”
Ms Padden said the charity mostly helped teens taken into care after coming from extremely difficult backgrounds. “When they’re taken away (into residential care), you know it’s the worst situation,” Ms Padden said. “The poor kids are damaged. They’re really psychologically damaged. And we want them to have a smooth transition and we want them to be happy ... So we want them to go to school with nice stuff, with stuff they want. All these kids want is parents to love and care for them and they don’t have that. We’re trying to help them out as best we can.”
Theodore MP Mark Boothman said he was “disgusted” that someone would steal from the charity.
“It’s very disappointing that someone would actually do this, especially for a charity that is helping young people in need,” Mr Boothman said.
Police said they were investigating the theft and appealed to anyone with information to come forward.
“Initial investigations indicate sometime between February 15 and February 16 a quantity of items were stolen from a trailer at an Old Pacific Highway address,” a spokesman said. “Anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage in the area that could assist investigations is asked to contact police.”