Break-in crushes spirits and leaves blank canvas

When burglars stole a tapa cloth from a Tauranga group supporting dozens of families in the Bay they took the spirit from a place where lives are changed.
At Tauranga Living Without Violence, men and women are supported as they overcome problems with violence in the home.
The organisation is one of five community services targeted in a spate of burglaries over the past two weeks that have left workers bitterly disappointed.
Turning Point Trust, Tauranga Budget Advisory Centre, Autism Bay of Plenty and Compass Community Foundation were also victims of a burglary spree where petty cash, a television and a camera were taken.
The Living Without Violence theft has shattered manager Dennis Blake.
"Seeing that blank wall - it felt like a spirit had left the room," he said.
The tapa cloth, or wall hanging, was made of coconut husks and was stolen from the Cameron Rd premises last Monday.
It was loaned to the organisation by a worker and represented a special spirit for the eight support groups of men and women that meet weekly.
Two door locks were smashed in the small office and about $200 cash taken along with tea, coffee and sugar.
But Mr Blake said the loss of the 2m by 2.5m tapa cloth was the most heartbreaking.
Nearby at Compass Community Village, a series of burglaries were reported from several groups that help hundreds of people across the wider Bay.
Compass Community Foundation general manager Martin Steinmann said the "tidy" burglar seemed to have known the layout of the village and used some internal access doors.
"The thing that is hardest to take is that they are social service organisations.
"This is really low. The organisations are here to help people and they get picked on for petty theft."
Autism Bay of Plenty field officer Jan Glover said it was "soul-destroying" to find someone had been through the village premises, taking cash and a digital camera.
The camera was used to help children with autism overcome their learning difficulties.
"Money is never easy to come by. When we get something we have done a lot of work to get it," Mrs Glover said.
"This is devastating when everyone is working so hard to keep the village going and their organisations working."
The charitable organisation offers support and advocacy for hundreds of families.
Another village organisation, Turning Point Trust, also lost cash.