Pitreavie Playgroup finds not even children's charity collections are safe from thieves
Thieves have stolen a children's charity collection.
Charity collections can be a lucrative target for thieves.
- By Leeza Clark
- Published in the Courier : 01.02.12
- Published online : 01.02.12 @ 04.05pm
Staff and parents at Pitreavie Playgroup in Dunfermline were astounded when they discovered criminals had stolen the contents of an overflowing charity bin which sees rags changed into much-needed cash.
The shock theft has left children — aged from 2 to five — ''understandably upset''.
The bin, operated by the Rag Bag recycling scheme, had been turning old clothing, textiles, shoes and books into money for the playgroup, a registered charity which works with over 30 children.
Staff at the playgroup discovered the theft last Friday morning after the charity's wheelie rubbish bins vanished. The bins, which were later recovered by greenkeepers at neighbouring Pitreavie Golf Club, had been used to wheel away the contents of the charity collection from the playgroup's grounds.
It was only after contacting police about the disappearance of the bins that staff were advised to check the clothing bin as well. That is when they made the shocking discovery that the bin, which was full of items ready to be recycled for playgroup funds, had been emptied by thieves.
It is thought the thieves got away with around 100kg of clothing.
Playgroup chairwoman Pamela Abbott said: ''In the current economic climate, fundraising is difficult for all charities but the Rag Bag was something which had captured the imagination of parents and children alike, who had worked incredibly hard to ensure the playgroup gained the maximum benefit from the collection.
''This callous theft has deprived a charitable organisation of much-needed funds, which would have been used for the benefit of all the children.''
She added that the theft had distressed everyone involved in the playgroup.
''The children are understandably upset, but not as upset as parents who have been rallying round to provide more bags, although they will not be going out until we receive our new secure bin.''
The theft follows a similar incident at another Dunfermline nursery last year.
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