Twisted thieves
Playgroup have vital mini-bus pinched
Thieves have stolen a £24,000 mini-bus and vital equipment from a special needs playgroup in Livingston.
The sickening theft, which took pl place at Geddes House in Livingston Vi Village, has left parents and staff at the Fi First Steps Playgroup in Beatlie School de devastated.
It is believed the thieves cut through a fence to gain entry to the grounds be before making off with the white Ford Tr Transit mini-bus.
Staff confirmed that the bus, with th the registration SL62 FJU, was taken at so some point between Saturday evening an and Monday morning.
It contained more than £ 1000 w worth of equipment including seven sp specialised car seats and three buggies fo for kids with complex additional needs.
Now children who rely on the bus to get to and from the playgroup are at ri risk of missing crucial development ac activities, according to the playgroup’s
manager Rosemary Williamson. She said: “We’re absolutely devastated about it. It’s really sickening.
“When I went to Geddes House on Tuesday morning I thought there must have been a mistake, that someone else from the nursery must have the van.
“I went into the taxi office and the girl there said the last time she saw it was Saturday night. The owner told us it wasn’t there on Monday and that he’d thought that one of the nursery leaders would have had it.”
Parents, staff and generous members of the public managed to raise the £24,000 to buy the bus over a two-year period up to 2012.
Since then it has become an essential tool for educating the children, many of whom are aged as young as one.
Rosemary said: “We take the kids out two or three times a week. We pick children up from home and take them back – that’s the main use for it. The kids come from all over West Lothian. It’s not as if they’re all on the bus route.
“It’s part of the curriculum for the kids to get out and it’s crucial to their learning. The bus allows us to take them places their parents wouldn’t always manage to go with them.
“Everything we need for the kids was in it, including seven specialised car seats worth £80 each and three buggies which cost £240 each.
“There was a further £300 worth of equipment there as well and we just spent £800 getting the brakes fixed and having it MOT’d and serviced.”
She added: “It would be lovely to get it back but the way it was done seems to be quite professional. The thieves will no doubt have a plan for it.”
Police Scotland Inspector Adam Smith, based in Livingston, said: “The vehicle has a distinctive footsteps design on its bodywork.
“I would urge anyone who has seen this vehicle or who has information relevant to our ongoing enquiries to contact Police Scotland on 101.
“Alternatively, an anonymous report can be made through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”