‘Devastating’
Thieves steal three school minibuses used to deliver food parcels across city
Three minibuses, which were being used to deliver food and wellbeing parcels to the most vulnerable, have been stolen from a Sunderland school.
The Link School and Together for Children Sunderland are appealing for witnesses to come forward as the headteacher says the theft of three Ford Tourneo buses is a ‘devastating’ blow.
Two vehicles were taken sometime between 10.43pm on Saturday and 6.55am on Monday after thieves broke a padlock on the car park.
A third minibus was then stolen between 5pm on Monday and 7am the following day.
Headteacher Donna Walker said the thefts were devastating for the Pallion-based school.
She said: “We use these minibuses all the time during term time, but they would also be hard at work every day during the holidays to deliver food parcels, wellbeing and mindfulness packs, and information on activities for the children to do.
“We’re talking more than 100 deliveries a week to some of the most vulnerable families across the city, and these thefts are going to severely limit what we can now deliver, because we don’t have the money to just go out and buy new ones.”
The thefts were reported to the police and any information can be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “We can confirm we are investigating the theft of three school minibuses taken from the Link
School car park on Waverley Terrace in Sunderland over the weekend.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact police quoting log 183 140720.”
The theft of the vehicles follows two incidents of damage to minibuses belonging to St Aidan's Catholic Academy, on Willow Bank Road, which were also being used to deliver daily food parcels to members of the community in need.
Its two two buses are now out of action after they were targeted across two separate incidents last week.
Wheels were taken off the buses and have cost £1,500 to replace.
They were then targeted again when offenders cut the lock to the school’s gates and caused damage to the steering columns of the buses, causing an estimated £3,000 worth of damage.