Something beginning with ‘C’ steals a letter
A central New Plymouth school is suffering an identity crisis after thieves stole a one-metre high letter C from its sign.
The kids of Central School in New Plymouth returned from their two week break on Monday to find the yellow C gone from its usual spot at the Pendarves St gates.
The frontage now welcomed people to Entral School.
Year six student Stirling Monk said the vandalism was disappointing and wondered if the culprit responsible was planning a party that required the letter for its theme.
‘‘Maybe they were missing a letter for, like, a big event at their home, or something,’’ the 10-yearold said.
Student Sydney Becker wondered if the thief had taken the letter to add to their home’s decor.
She thought it was likely stolen by somebody whose name began with letter C.
‘‘Their name might start with C and, you know, some people put the letters of their name on their bedroom door,’’ the 11-year-old said.
‘‘It’s sad because now it’s not our real school name.’’
Principal Juliet Ormrod said the students and the school’s community were distressed by the loss of the C.
During the holidays the school’s caretaker had noticed the metal letter, estimated to be one metre in height, was missing and alerted police.
Ormrod said there was evi- dence the theft was well-planned.
‘‘They brought a spanner and they left the nuts behind and took it away,’’ she said.
‘‘They only thought about themselves, they didn’t think about us or about how we feel.’’
Ormrod said the theft was a first for the school but it had been victim to tagging.
She said the school now had cameras to catch people in the act but unfortunately the coverage did not extend to the front gate.
Ormrod wasn’t sure how much it would cost to replace the letter and remained hopeful it would be returned.
New Plymouth has a history of letter theft.
It is not unusual for at least one of the multi-coloured Womad letters to go missing during the annual festival.
So far these letters have always turned up after a few days away.
A New Plymouth police spokeswoman confirmed the disappearance of ‘‘one large metal sign’’ had been reported to them.
She said there were as yet no leads to the culprits.