Thieves steal food from care home

ABH appeals for help as hunger looms for aged

WITH only enough food to last until tomorrow after their food stores were cleaned out by a gang of armed men, the Aryan Benevolent Home Council has appealed to the public for help.

Six armed men stormed on to the premises of the charity organisation in Arena Park Drive in Chatsworth at about 11pm on Thursday, attacking and tying up two security guards.

Board member Nirode Bramdaw said the gang had stolen a vehicle belonging to the home and driven it to central stores on the property.

“They loaded it with the food for our patients. We believe they may have made up to three trips before the tracker device kicked in and the vehicle stalled.

“The night nurse saw what was happening and alerted the police.”

The gang then fled, Bramdaw said.

The organisation houses 700 residents, among them children, mentally and physically challenged adults, as well as the aged. The central stores also supply smaller homes in Chatsworth and Sydenham.

“October 1, was declared International Day of the Aged by the UN, so it’s ironic that something like this has happened which has left our aged residents quite shaken.

“This is the first time this has happened in the history of our organisation,” he said.

Bramdaw said the children at the centre had been “quite affected”, but had still gone to school on Friday morning.

Estimated losses amount to thousands of rand and an appeal was launched on Friday to help the residents.

“We have enough food to last until Sunday. We have had donations coming in and our board members have been at the centre all day,” said Bramdaw.

Anyone who would like to help, please call Pershia at 031 404 9453.