Editorial: Kindy thieves lowest of low

Stealing from children has to be one of the lowest forms of theft.

Who could even contemplate stealing precious learning tools from helpless, innocent children who barely understand what has happened, let alone why?

Today this newspaper has revealed how Te Puna Community Kindergarten was hit by thieves at the weekend - the second burglary at the kindy this year.

These lowlifes broke in through a side entrance, taking a computer, camera, projector and stereo, leaving a bottle of booze behind.

In January, thieves stole picnic tables, a ceramic water feature and several Tonka trucks toys.

The Te Puna community has raised funds for the kindergarten and in a short space of time, these thoughtless criminals have undone all that hard work.

Since the January break-in, the kindergarten has had to fork out for a large, outdoor storage shed - and now it faces an increase in insurance premiums.

Funding is precious to these types of organisations and expenses such as these are ones they surely can do without.

The kindergarten could also have to do without explaining to its children what has happened, the poor youngsters are struggling to understand why their stereo is missing. Undoubtedly the community will rally behind the kindergarten, helping to once again fundraise and replace valuable equipment.

But they should not have to.

Police are on the hunt for these callous thieves and when they are caught the punishment needs to be meaningful.

The offenders should contribute some form of reparation to the kindergarten and re-instil some faith in the Te Puna community.