Thieves hit kids and volunteers

By Callan Date
HEARTLESS thieves have targeted kindergartens and a community centre in a spate of burglaries last week.
Cash was stolen from both the Bunyip and Nar Nar Goon kindergartens while the Bunyip and District Community house was burgled and money taken.
Secretary of Nar Nar Goon Kindergarten Cheryl Anstis said the theft was disappointing and, while only being a small amount of cash, it caused great inconvenience.
“Some of the money was from a Mother’s Day raffle while kids’ excursion and photo money was also stolen,” she said.
The money was to be used for upcoming activities and staff will now be forced to organise another fundraising event to replace the stolen money.
The coordinator of Bunyip and District Community House, Davina Veenstra, said the theft was a major setback.
“It is a big blow to us all and it has really broken our confidence in what we are trying to do for the community,” Ms Veenstra said.
“We are a nonprofit group that provides a range of classes to members of the district and a theft like this has really unsettled us.”
Ms Veenstra said that no money would be kept at the community house in the future and efforts would be made to increase security to ensure no further incidents.
All staff at the Bunyip and District Community House are volunteers running various classes for local residents.
“We have been open for four years and this is the first time anything like this has ever happened,” Ms Veenstra said.
Anyone with information about the burglaries should contact Senior Detective Paul Morrissey at Pakenham CIU on 5940 2345.