THE staff at Open Door Crisis Centre who assists people with trauma and crisis counselling is now living in fear after the third robbery in two weeks.
Director of the centre, Thora Mansfield expressed their concerns as NGO’s and NPO’s are facing a financial crisis.
“The centre helps domestic violence, human trafficking and rape victims and it is such a shame that people do not even think twice about pulling us backwards and stealing from us.
“We work for the community offering free services. One of our social workers, Mpho Maketha whose office has been broken into was suppose to visit one of the schools in the area.
“The criminals locked the door from the inside and she can not access her files to go and assist children.
According to Mansfield, the criminals broke into the centre and used a hut in the premises to climb into Makhetha’s office.
“They took out a window and failed to enter her office. They came back the following night and took out another bigger window and stole a computer and a tower.
Manfield said the criminals returned on Wednesday night and removed the glass which was replaced by Costa Glass Works for free.
The robbers stole a fan and damaged the window and the blinds
“We are tired of the robbers targeting the centre. We have lost count of the times we have been robbed.”We are now living in fear as we do not know when these criminals are going to strike again.
Mansfield said they have a good relationship with ADT security and Pinetown SAPS who do their best to assist them when these robberies take place.
“They can not be at the centre all the time. We really hope that these criminals would just stop stealing from the centre as there are so many people who get help here for free.”
Anyone who would like to assist the centre, can contact Thora Mansfield on 031 709 2679.
