Hurt felt widely after van theft

Supporting Families Wairarapa (SFW) is still hurting after the sickening theft of its van stolen early last month.

Manager Tracey Towns has said the perpetrators have taken a valuable community resource "off everyone".

An anonymous caller recently telephoned the organisation to say the van, which was used to help people suffering from mental health and addiction issues, had left the region.

Apart from that tip-off there has been no leads for police.

On Sunday, March 10, a SFW staff member noticed the van was missing from a carpark outside the SFW building. Nothing else was stolen.

The manager said the van was an essential part of SFW services and people in the community had been frustrated and upset about the theft of the 1996 green Mitsubishi van, which was purchased for $12,000. "The community has shown expressions of annoyance really," she said. "The van was used by community groups and a lot of people."

Ms Towns said the crime was undoubtedly an act which victimised a huge number of people with difficulties and obstacles in their lives. "It takes off everyone really and it probably takes from a group who have less than others."

Ms Towns said the insurance company had yet to make a decision on the van. She said when they know what the decision will be they might have a look at possible fundraising for another van. She said it would depend on "what they pay out".

Ms Towns said as well as supporting people with mental health and addiction issues the van was also used to transporting volunteers and SFW's Like Minds team to workshops.

"We just had to hire a vehicle to take a volunteer group out to the beach."

After the initial theft of the van last month, Ms Towns said the theft was a selfish act. "I'm pretty gutted really because the van is used to support other people, it stinks to think someone has got it and is going to try and make some sort of personal gain out of it."

The vehicle had been warranted and registered recently and its licence number is UR 7881. The van was taken from a carpark outside the SFW building. Nothing else was stolen.

Senior Sergeant Warwick Burr said police were asking for anyone who had seen the vehicle to contact them.