A thief has stolen several items from a children’s charity in Saint John, and now the community is trying to replace what was taken.
Bobby Hayes, the founder of the Joshua Group, says he noticed a number of electronic games and computers were missing from the playhouse last week.
“I said well, somebody may have moved it to play a game on one of the other TVs, but when I looked on the floor and saw the other ones were gone, I knew exactly what had happened,” says Hayes.
He starting searching the building and noticed other things, such as power tools, were missing too.
Underprivileged children from all over the city visit the playhouse every weekend. Hayes says the worst part was having to tell them about the theft.
“When these kids are getting on the bus, they’re expecting to come here and not have the building with a door kicked in and their stuff’s been stolen,” he says.
A Joshua Group volunteer has installed a video surveillance and security system, at a cost of $1,500, but the group says it had no choice.
“Getting the security cameras hooked up and we have people who will be staying here more often overnight to make sure the property that we do have is more secure,” says volunteer Malakyi Goldsworthy.
Word of the robbery has spread throughout the city and Hayes says people he doesn’t even know have been dropping off new electronic games for the club.
“Our community again has certainly come to the rescue.”
With files from CTV Atlantic's Mike Cameron
