Trust hit by second theft
The theft of more than $6000 worth of gardening equipment and fuel from a Maori cultural centre, near Timaru, has sparked anger.
Te Aitarakihi Multicultural Centre trustee Phil Edwards said their ride on lawnmower and two 20 litre containers of fuel were taken from the shed at the site some time between Sunday and Monday.
He said a volunteer had gone up to the centre on Saturday and ‘‘everything seemed fine’’.
‘‘She came back Monday even- ing and the gates (to the centre) were open, she looked down the back where we store the ride on mower, she saw the door was open.
‘‘The shed is always locked up at all times. The chain had been cut and the back door of the shed was open. She looked in and the mower was gone.’’
Edwards said this wasn’t the first time they had been targeted.
On a previous occasion, thieves had smashed their way into the shed by breaking one of the doors and had taken two 20 litre containers of fuel, he said.
Edwards said the theft was something the centre could ill afford.
‘‘We hire out the marae to get some funding, and we apply for funding for certain things. But everything up there is done by volunteers.’’
Edwards said he and others at the centre were upset about the impact the theft would have.
‘‘I am just lost for words at the moment, because we are all volunteers up there. To get some low lifes taking something quite valuable to the organisation, I am just really angry.’’
Police were investigating the theft, he said.