CHARITY tins supporting three local families in need, as well as a Royal Children’s Hospital collection box, were stolen during a break-in of the Axedale Tavern overnight.
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The tins, estimated to contain at least several hundred dollars each, raised funds for the Niemann-Pick Type C Foundation, which supports three children in the Bendigo region living with the rare disease.
Another tin was raising money for the family of Heathcote girl Georgia Edsall-French, who was killed in a car crash in Queensland earlier this year.
It was the second time charity tins have been stolen from the tavern in the last six months, and the third break-in.
Axedale Tavern owner Garry Van Wynen said he was fed up with those responsible.
“I’m just sick of these people who are ripping people off, it annoys me that they think it’s OK to steal from charities,” he said.
“They blatantly come in here and steal from people who are less fortunate than they are.”
The break-in occurred between 7.30pm Monday and 5am Tuesday, when the offender broke in through the back door.
About $2500 in alcohol was stolen, along with cash, before they turned their attention to the security system.
A camera was stolen and the system was damaged, but some of the footage may still be viewable off-site.
They then stole all three collection tins on the bar, the Royal Children’s Hospital collection box, and boxes selling wristbands to support the Niemann-Pick Type C causes.
The rare genetic disease causes excessive cholesterol to gather in the body, causing irreversible damage to major organs.
With no cure, patients rarely survive 10 years.
Three people in the Bendigo region are among the just 500 people worldwide to have the degenerative disease.
The tins raising money to support the boys – brothers Matthew and Timothy Lloyd, and Aaron Adams – had at least $600.
Mr Van Wynen said the community always got behind the causes at the tavern, and they would continue to try and fundraise as much as they could.
“What has angered us most is that we do lots of fundraising and are well supported by the community in our efforts,” he said.
“We can accept donations at the tavern or online if anyone would like to help retrieve the lost fund for the NPC Foundation.”
Contact the Axedale Tavern on 5439 7377 to find out how to donate to the causes.
Anyone with information about the break-in can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
