Over $7k worth of Christmas toys destined for Mandurah's homeless, low income families stolen

Wednesday, 16 October 2024 09:25

By Monique Welhan

PIC: File

WestAus Crisis and Welfare Services in Mandurah is urgently calling on Christmas toy donations after their storage facility was robbed.

About $7000 worth of toys destined for over 1300 families doing it tough in the Peel region were stolen from a shipping container at The Salvation Army site on Lakes Road in July.

The thieves cut the padlocks on the container and took off with about 300 gifts that were donated from businesses, generous locals and from the Kmart Wishing Tree.

Unfortunately, police have not been able to catch the offenders with CCTV footage not clear enough to identify them.

CEO of WestAus Crisis and Welfare Services Lynn Rodgers said the toys were destined for hampers that they distribute to low income and homeless families during the Christmas period.

"We've been doing it for 21 years and this is the first time this have ever happened," she said.

"Sometimes this one toy might be the only gift that a child might get."

People can assist this years Christmas Hamper Appeal by donating new gifts for children 0-15 years.

Gift can be dropped off at The Salvation Army (45 Lakes Rd, Greenfields) or at WestAus Crisis (Suite 3, Lotteries House, 7 Anzac Place, Mandurah).

Toys can also be dropped off at any local Kmart shopping centre, who are once again supporting this year’s appeal.

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