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Armadale: Save the Children targeted by break-ins and damage to support vehicles

Jessica WarrinerComment News

CHARITY vehicles used for transporting families and engaging with kids at risk of homelessness have been hit by break-ins in Armadale.

Save the Children’s vehicles are garaged at a community service facility on Braemore Street, but staff have reported three break-ins over the previous year.

“The last time, it seems like our cars were targeted and all the windows were smashed with bricks. The other cars weren’t touched,” regional co-ordinator Heidi Holmen said.

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The most recent break-in landed the charity with a $1000 cleaning bill to remove the shards of glass from the car.

Ms Holmen said Save the Children already spend $10,000 a year on garaging the vehicles and covering insurance costs, money which then gets taken from their programs.

“We’ve got one vehicle that picks up mums to access playgroup, we also lend our vehicles to transport kids to the Ignite program,” she said.

“During the week, we run a range of case management programs… which engage with kids at risk of homelessness, and we’re working with kids coming out of prison and high-prolific offenders.”

Ms Holmen said if any businesses in the area are able to help with potentially housing the vehicles in a locked, secure area, it would be invaluable to the group, who are based at the Champion Centre in Seville Grove.

They run three cars and two vans, and are happy to negotiate multiple sites.

Anyone who can assist Save the Children with its vehicles can contact Heidi Holmen on 9399 4466.

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