Op shop thieves stoop low

By Glen Atwell
WHEN volunteer worker Silvia Sproull entered the Lang Lang Opportunity Shop on 28 August, she thought the shop had been left in an awful mess the night before.
On further investigation, the 79yearold realised she was standing in the middle of a crime scene.
Thieves had entered the shop during the night and stolen the Royal Children’s Hospital and Country Fire Authority donation tins.
Both tins were padlocked to a drawer, but Ms Sproull said the chains did little to deter the thieves.
“They ripped the handle of the drawer clean off and took the whole thing,” she said.
The back entrance to the shop had been forced open.
Ms Sproull said the op shop was an important part of the Lang Lang community, and it was a shame thieves had to resort to such low measures.
“It is not the op shop that has lost out, but the charities people were donating to,” she said.
Ms Sproull estimated one of the tins would have had over $100 inside.
“It is disappointing. Thankfully they didn’t ransack the entire shop for the sake of it.”
With the ANZ Bank next door to the op shop, Ms Sproull admits the store was probably an easy target.
“It would be much easier to break into the op shop than it would be the bank,” she said.
The incident was reported to police and the store is open for business.