Heartless thieves steal gifts for disabled Poole youngsters (From Thisisdorset)

Heartless thieves steal gifts for disabled Poole youngsters

4:00pm Tuesday 20th November 2012 in News By Diana Henderson

GUTTED: Paula Allcroft, who had her car full of donated charity items stolen, with cerebral palsy sufferer Sam Bird

CALLOUS thieves have stolen a car packed with an Aladdin’s Cave of donated items destined to raise funds for a Poole school for disabled youngsters.

Paula Allcroft lost not only her Nissan Micra but collected goods that could have raised much needed funds for Victoria Education Centre’s Sparkle Appeal for a new hydro pool.

“It’s heartless,” said Paula, 45, a classroom assistant at the Branksome Park School.

“I’m angry as much as anything.

“How dare they?

“I’m completely gutted.”

She had parked her aged white Micra in the off-road car park outside her Canford Heath flat on Tuesday night and was shocked to discover it missing when she set out for work on Wednesday morning.

“I walked into the car park and no car,” she said.

“It was a bit of a shock.”

But the boot was full of items to be sold and raffled including donated branded T-shirts and caps from car dealership Volvo, Muck Off items for cleaning cars and bikes, a 2ft teddy from Flirt Cafe and much more.

“Various people had given us bits and pieces. There was loads of stuff, a bootful of stuff like that,” she said.

Hidden inside were collecting tins with coins in, which she said did not contain much money. The theft has been reported to the police.

“It’s the time involved in running around and picking all the stuff up and the fact that people have given it to us,” she said.

“And it’s the inconvenience. The car is 20 years old but I had only had it a year and two weeks. It took me an hour to get to work on the bus.”

Paula, who works with cerebral palsy sufferer Sam Bird, said: “You can’t publish what I actually think and all the words I said when I found out.”

The Sparkle Appeal is raising funds for a new hydrotherapy pool and a therapy centre, and last year’s Christmas Fayre raised £5,000.

Paula is hoping that despite the set-back people will turn out and support the Victorian Christmas fundraiser on Saturday from 11am to 2pm, which includes carol singing and Santa in his grotto.

“Hopefully someone will find my car, or donate something in exchange,” she said.

“We are desperately in need of a new pool.”