The Haven Wellness Centre in Parkridge which cares and cooks for the sick, elderly and vulnerable people in the community, has been crippled by a series of burglaries.
The founder of the centre, Eurina Stowman, said the centre has been burgled four times in the past two months – and it is not the first time it has been targeted by criminals either.
“It seems like these criminals are watching every move because they hit us soon after supplies have been delivered to us,” said Stowman.
Police yesterday confirmed the incidents, saying a case of business burglary was opened at the Buffalo Flats Police Station.
Stowman said items taken included kitchen appliances such as stoves and kettles; television sets; DVD players; furniture and food.
According to Stowman, the thieves break in during the night as staff would arrive in the morning to find the place had been burgled.
“We find the alarm has been disarmed, locks on the rooms where supplies are being kept had been broken and items were stolen.
“What pains me is that the community that we are feeding is the same community that is stealing from us.
“Because I can assure you the perpetrators have or are directly or indirectly benefiting from this centre,” said Stowman.
The principal at the creche, which cares for 80 children, Lynette Bentley, said furniture, books and educational tools had been stolen from the creche.
She said in the most recent incident, on May 5, they sent the children home as the place had been ransacked. “The children had to be sent home for two days.”
As a result of the burglaries Stowman said she sometimes had to dig into her own pockets and call up friends for donations in order to feed the estimated 300 people that they feed on a daily basis.
Raqual Prince, who cares and feeds the elderly and youth with chronic illness, said for most of the people they care for, the meal they receive at the centre was their only meal for the day.
“How do you tell a hungry person, especially a child who has been outside the gate for hours waiting for food that there is no food?
“Those who steal from us need to understand they are not just stealing from us but are robbing hundreds of people of a nutritional meal and hampering the care we give to those in need,” said Prince.
The chairman of the Community Policing Forum, (CPF) in the community, Hazel Groep, urged the community to keep their eyes peeled and ears to the ground and come forward with any information that might assist in apprehending the perpetrators. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
Haven for helpless crippled by burglars
The founder of the centre, Eurina Stowman, said the centre has been burgled four times in the past two months – and it is not the first time it has been targeted by criminals either.
“It seems like these criminals are watching every move because they hit us soon after supplies have been delivered to us,” said Stowman.
Police yesterday confirmed the incidents, saying a case of business burglary was opened at the Buffalo Flats Police Station.
Stowman said items taken included kitchen appliances such as stoves and kettles; television sets; DVD players; furniture and food.
According to Stowman, the thieves break in during the night as staff would arrive in the morning to find the place had been burgled.
“We find the alarm has been disarmed, locks on the rooms where supplies are being kept had been broken and items were stolen.
“What pains me is that the community that we are feeding is the same community that is stealing from us.
“Because I can assure you the perpetrators have or are directly or indirectly benefiting from this centre,” said Stowman.
The principal at the creche, which cares for 80 children, Lynette Bentley, said furniture, books and educational tools had been stolen from the creche.
She said in the most recent incident, on May 5, they sent the children home as the place had been ransacked. “The children had to be sent home for two days.”
As a result of the burglaries Stowman said she sometimes had to dig into her own pockets and call up friends for donations in order to feed the estimated 300 people that they feed on a daily basis.
Raqual Prince, who cares and feeds the elderly and youth with chronic illness, said for most of the people they care for, the meal they receive at the centre was their only meal for the day.
“How do you tell a hungry person, especially a child who has been outside the gate for hours waiting for food that there is no food?
“Those who steal from us need to understand they are not just stealing from us but are robbing hundreds of people of a nutritional meal and hampering the care we give to those in need,” said Prince.
The chairman of the Community Policing Forum, (CPF) in the community, Hazel Groep, urged the community to keep their eyes peeled and ears to the ground and come forward with any information that might assist in apprehending the perpetrators. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
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