CALLOUS thieves have left Rosedale Cemetery Trust volunteers shattered, after stealing thousands of dollars worth of equipment in two separate breaks-ins this month.
The first theft was discovered on March 3 when volunteers arrived at the Rosedale-Stradbroke Rd property, only to find the storage shed had been broken into and goods valued at about $3000 missing, including herbicides, a brush cutter, generator, hoses, fuel cans, water pumps and even toilet paper.
Thieves struck again two weeks later, this time arriving with a trailer and taking the trust’s new ride-on mower.
That theft is believed to have happened on or about March 18, and was also discovered by trust volunteers doing maintenance work.
Trust secretary Sharon Rees said the thefts were particularly heartbreaking because the trust was a voluntary organisation that relied on grants and the hard work of community members to keep it running.
“It is more than a little disappointing to think that people can do this to a volunteer organisation and just strip us of pretty much everything,” she said.
Ms Rees said some of the stolen items had only been bought recently thanks to a community grant.
Wellington Criminal Investigation Unit is investigating the thefts, and police believe there could be a link between the two incidents.
A police spokesman said while there was no evidence to confirm the thefts were related, it was a possibility and all avenues would be investigated.
People with information should phone Wellington CIU on 5142 2200 or CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
