Charity scheme is hit by burglars

12:23pm Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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A SMASH and grab raid has forced a mental health charity to consider putting up a perimeter fence to beef up its security.

Therapeutic Work in Gardening Swindon (TWIGS) was broken into on Sunday night after thieves removed tiles and smashed through the ceiling stealing two laptops and £100 in cash. The theft comes just two months after vandals smashed up the charity's garden, kicking over a beehive in the process.

In all, the Cheney Manor-based group has been targeted six times in the last nine years by thieves and vandals. Now the centre's manager Alan Holland is considering whether a security fence would keep the undesirables at bay, despite recently installing a new alarm system, metal window bars and metal plates on the outside doors.

He said: "I am going to start looking into raising money to redo the fencing at the rear of the garden we use, we may need to put security fencing up.

"I am not sure who is responsible but I have the feeling the crime is coming from there.

"It is pretty devastating for everyone here to see this sort of thing happen again.

"But then again sometimes the more you are subjected to it the more you become immune to it - which is sad.

"Everyone works hard to keep the place going so everyone is gutted by losing the laptops."

He added that the group expect the total lost to be approximately £900 - money the charity desperately needs to survive.

A hundred people tend TWIGS' extensive gardens in Cheney Manor Road every week.

They all seek respite from mental health conditions ranging from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, Asperger's syndrome and personality disorders.

Bob, a client of the charity, said: "It is sad that people do these types of things, this place is for people with problems to come in order to gain purpose.

"When these things happen our charity doesn't feel so safe anymore but it should be a safe place for all of us."

Inspector Andy Morten of Swindon police said: "We are in the process of tasking the crime scene, from our view it is always awful when charities are victims in this way.

"I remain convinced that someone will come forward if these criminals end up selling these computers with further information."

Anyone with information is asked to call 0845 408 7000.