Charity 'heartbroken' by theft of Christmas toys, shoes
Melanie Tate says Puddle Jumpers' Brompton site has been targeted by thieves. (ABC News)
In short:
Children's charity Puddle Jumpers says thieves have targeted an Adelaide storage facility, stealing items intended for vulnerable families.
The charity estimates $23,000 worth of goods were stolen, including Christmas toys and shoes.
What's next?
Police are investigating the break-in, as well as a suspicious fire that gutted the charity's op shop in September.
An Adelaide children's charity says it has been left "heartbroken" by the theft of thousands of dollars worth of donated items intended for vulnerable families as Christmas presents.
Puddle Jumpers said thieves had targeted a Brompton facility being used as a temporary storage site, weeks after its op shop on Port Road at Hindmarsh was gutted by a suspicious fire.
SA Police has confirmed it is investigating the Brompton break-in, which it said occurred in the early hours of October 28.
The charity estimates $23,000 worth of goods were stolen, including Nike shoes. (ABC News: Bethanie Alderson)
In a post on social media, Puddle Jumpers said it was "absolutely gut-wrenching" to discover that "toys put aside for Christmas presents" had been stolen.
"After losing our Hindmarsh op shop to fire, we have been working so hard to keep going," it said.
"To now face another devastating loss is horrible.
"Our volunteers give so much of their time and hearts, and our community keeps showing up for us. This has left us feeling sick, exhausted and deeply saddened."
Puddle Jumpers says the Brompton site was targeted last week. (ABC News: Bethanie Alderson)
Puddle Jumpers CEO and founder Melanie Tate estimated the value of the stolen goods was about $23,000, but described the theft as a "far greater loss than just the monetary value of those items".
"Seventy-eight pairs of shoes have been taken, [including] brand new Nike shoes," she said.
"Brand new Christmas items that would have gone to vulnerable children and families were stolen from us.
"We're working with kids living in cars, we're working with families who don't have enough food to eat, we're working with children who work in out-of-home care.
"It's the children and families who are going to miss out. That's the really sad and hard part."
Melanie Tate described the theft as "devastating" and "heartbreaking". (ABC News: Bethanie Alderson)
Ms Tate said the owners of the storage facility had alerted her to the theft on Friday, but she suspected the site had been targeted multiple times.
"The disaster unfolded when we realised, looking back from the camera footage from the owners, that they [the thieves] had actually been here … three or four times that week," she said.
"Today, we've come back here and realised that more has gone over the weekend."
Puddle Jumpers' Port Road op shop was gutted in September by a blaze that is being treated by police as suspicious.
Puddle Jumpers' op shop on Port Road at Hindmarsh after a suspicious fire in September. (891 ABC Adelaide: Bobby Macumber)
At the time, police said a pair was seen "fleeing on foot towards the city along Port Road", and today confirmed investigations were ongoing.
Ms Tate said the charity was exploring options for a new site.
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