Thieves robbing people of sight, charity says

A Fred Hollows Foundation technician tests a child's sight in Timor-Leste. The charity said the thefts had taken a heavy financial toll. Photo / FHFNZ

The theft of computer equipment from the Fred Hollows Foundation for the second time in a fortnight has also robbed people of their sight, the charity has said.

Thousands of dollars worth of equipment was taken from the foundation's Newmarket offices on Saturday – just one day after it had been replaced from a burglary two weeks before.

The charity needs the equipment to manage its blindness prevention and eyecare training programmes in the Pacific, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.

Executive director Carmel Williams said the thefts had taken a heavy financial toll on the organisation and its charitable operations.

"We run a very tight ship and send as much of our income as possible to the countries where we work to restore sight and train local eye care personnel."

She said perhaps burglars might think twice if they knew "when they steal from us, they really are leaving many people blind in the Pacific".

The Foundation has been forced to use its limited funds on improved security to safeguard against further thefts.

Police are investigating the burglaries but said it is not uncommon for thieves to target the same place more than once.