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Vandals target charity’s vehicles for second time

Sheppey Age Concern manager Elaine O’Brien, left, with fundraiser Bonnie Sweet
Sheppey Age Concern manager Elaine O’Brien, left, with fundraiser Bonnie Sweet

Vandals went on a wrecking spree, breaking into cars and smashing the windows of charity minibuses.

Staff at Age Concern in Trinity Road, Sheerness, only discovered the damage when a volunteer walked past after they had closed up for the weekend.

It is thought vandals got in over the gate and then smashed a window on each of the centre’s two minibuses and its meals on wheels car before ransacking the vehicles to look for equipment to steal.

They didn’t get away with anything, but did about £300 worth of damage during the break-in, which happened sometime between 6pm last Friday and last Saturday afternoon.

At about the same time, there were two other similar incidents nearby.

A VW Golf parked in Rose Street was broken into and some speakers and a model car were stolen and a sat nav and CD player were taken from a Kia Rio which was in the high street.

In May last year, Age Concern was broken into by vandals and their hanging baskets were ripped from the wall, ornaments stolen and tiles were taken from the roof.

Day centre manager Elaine O’Briencorr said she feels disheartened they’ve been targeted yet again.

She said: “I was mortified. We were there all day Saturday clearing up.

“That was the priority otherwise we would have been closed Monday.

“There was nothing inside the vans, they just caused a lot of damage.”

The vandalism has so appalled Halfway resident Bonnie Sweet,corr it has prompted her to raise money for the centre.

The 45-year-old will be running 10 miles dressed as a pensioner leaving from the Aviator pub at Queenborough Corner on Saturday, September 1.

She will go through Halfway, into Sheerness, along the coast road to Minster and down through the village before heading back to the pub.

If you would like to sponsor Bonnie, pop into Sheppey Community Media Centre, next to the Healthy Living Centre, off Broadway, Sheerness, or Age Concern where you can leave donations.

  • Police are investigating the break-in and appealing for information. Anyone who can help should phone 101 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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