Robbed Blind - Second Burglary At Fred Hollows

The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ was reeling from its second burglary in as many weeks on Saturday. The Newmarket-based charity was stunned to lose thousands of dollars of computer equipment just one day after replacing equipment stolen two weeks previously.

Some of the equipment stolen was used by programme staff who manage the organisation's blindness prevention and eye doctor and nurse training in the Pacific, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.

Hollows NZ Executive Director Carmel Williams says the burglaries have hit the organisation at a time when it is already experiencing considerable cost pressure from fluctuating exhange rates in its countries of operation, as well as increasing costs on doing business. "We run a very tight ship and send as much of our income as possible to the countries where we work to restore sight and train local eye care personnel. We pride ourselves on maintaining very low administration and fundraising costs, and this kind of malicious activity adds additional costs to our operation, not just in replacing the equipment lost, but also in the additional investment to make our offices more secure, and repairing the damage done during the break-in," said Ms Williams.

Police investigating the burglary noted that burglars, once gaining successful entry to a property, will continue to return and attempt to gain entry. Hollows NZ has undertaken a number of increased security measures in consultation with building management and its security firm to further secure access to their premises and computer equipment.

"It's probably hoping too much to think burglars have ethical standards, but perhaps if they realised when they steal from us, they really are leaving many people blind in the Pacific, they might think twice," said Ms Williams.

ENDS//

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