Mindless break- in hits thoseinneed

January 1990

HUNDREDS of pounds worth of clothes had to be dumped this week after two more in a series of break-ins at the St Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop in Arklow.

In the two latest break-ins clothes were thrown around the premises and excrement daubed on the walls and floor of the building.

Two windows in the Castlepark based thrift shop have been smashed in the break-ins, which now total eight in recent weeks.

The building’s outside has also been defaced with lewd drawings and graffiti.

The thrift shop, which has been operating from Castlepark for four of its 20 years in Arklow, provides a service to the needy people of Arklow and surrounding areas in gents, ladies and children’s clothing.

Practically all its stock of clothes, damaged and soiled in the break-ins, had to be destroyed as St Vincent members went about washing and cleaning the premises.

A spokesperson for the Society said that it was sad to see a service established t do good for people in need was being disrupted by vandals.

They said they were not going to yield to the vandals and that they hoped to have stock replaced shortly.

The shop will also soon be restocked and open again.

The Society appealed to people to keep an eye on the premises if they were passing as it is of benefit to the whole community.