Thieves target Rossendale charity club twice (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Thieves target Rossendale charity club twice

9:27am Wednesday 28th September 2011 in Waterfoot By Vanessa Cornall, Reporter

THIEVES stole hundreds of pounds of equipment from a charity which supports people with learning and physical disabilities in Rossendale.

The Rossendale Mencap Gateway Club had an Xbox Kinect, a Dell printer, a Wii and a flatscreen TV and video recorder stolen on Sunday.

The equipment was used by young people who meet three times a week at the support group in Warth Old Road, Waterfoot.

Youth workers said it was the second time in as many weeks the charity had been targeted.

Youth worker Ingrid Rawlins said: “This whole business is really upsetting. Two weeks ago, the caretaker arrived to find we had been broken into and the Wii had been stolen. But the worse thing was the thieves had caused about £750 worth of damage to the doors as they tried to get in.

“We had just about got sorted and then this Sunday it happened again and they took nearly everything.

“We receive no funding from anyone and the staff, young people and volunteers have worked hard to raise all the funds needed to buy this equipment. For some of the young people we help this is the only time they get to socialise.”

It comes just nine months after thieves stripped lead off the roof, causing water to leak in and hundreds of pounds of damage.

The club, which helps 70 adults and young people, is now appealing for donations.

Mrs Rawlins said: “If anybody has anything they can donate to us it would be really helpful. All our members are very upset and confused.

“If the people who have done this, have a conscience they would bring back our equipment but I don’t think they will.”