Low-life thieves leave group 'inconsolable'

BUSINESS partners Sharon Roscoe, right, and Shelly Davies at the One World Oldham Centre at Unitarian Church

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CALLOUS thieves broke into an Oldham chapel to steal video games and handmade sweet jars created by members of a disability group.

Members of the One World Community Group were left in tears when they arrived for their session yesterday to find their Wii console, controllers and games had been stolen along with their carefully crafted sweet jars.

The thieves broke in through a window at the Unitarian Church and One World Cafe centre, on King Street, shortly before 6am yesterday.

When co-managers Shelly Davies and Sharon Roscoe arrived shortly after 8am, they were shocked to discover that the chapel and the cafe had been ransacked.

The One World Community Hub, which only opened a few months ago, provides education and activities for people with learning disabilities and numbers had been quickly growing.

Shelly said: "When we walked in we saw that the doors had been ripped open in the cafe and there was glass all over the chapel floor.

"They had been through all the cupboards in the cafe and pulled everything out onto the floor.

"When we realised what they had taken we were devastated.

"The Wii is not worth much, but our members love it.

"They enjoy playing on it and had only recently bought a new game."

She added that the thieves had even taken the sweet jars that the members had been making, designing and filling ready to sell at a Christmas stall to raise money for the group.

Shelly continued: "They were in tears today. They were inconsolable.

"It was so heartless - they'd only left one lollipop behind."

The group are offering a reward for any information that leads to the conviction of those responsible.

Sharon continued: "They must have been looking for cash or a till to steal.

"We caught them on CCTV and have passed it to the police so hopefully we will catch them.

"We are hoping that someone will recognise them from the images.

"Our members have autism and Down's syndrome and this experience has been very upsetting for them."

The two men, who were caught on CCTV breaking into the property, wore black tracksuits and hoodies.

They were seen taking the stolen items, including the console, three controllers (two white and one red) and steering wheels away in a gold JD sports bag.

Shelly added: "We have been to second-hand shops in Oldham with the description of the items in the hope they will contact us if someone tries to sell the items.

"It will mean so much if we can get the Wii and games back."

Church minister Rev Bob Pounder said it is the fourth break-in at the chapel in less than a year.

"I am disappointed that the chapel is being targeted," he said. "We do not have anything worth taking but each time we are broken into, we face costs.

"Each time we have to pay at least £250 for repairs, which is money we can't spend on our charity work and running costs."

Police have been told and are investigating.