Thieves break into Te Puna Kindergarten - twice

Thieves have struck a Bay kindergarten for the second time this year - stealing precious teaching tools and leaving pre-schoolers struggling to understand what has happened.

Te Puna Community Kindergarten head teacher Paula Osborn could not believe it when she opened up yesterday to discover their main electronic teaching tools taken.

Thieves had broken in through a side entrance and taken a computer, camera, projector and stereo. They also left an alcohol bottle behind in the raid.

The stereo is a favourite for the pre-schoolers who dance or play "statues" to music. Yesterday, the children played to celebrate a girl's birthday - but the game had to be played to guitars instead.

"They are asking 'where did they put the stereo?"' Ms Osborn said.

"They don't have the concept, they can't get their heads around that someone would take it, that they [thieves] would want to do that to their kindergarten.

"They have that innocence, thank goodness."

The kindergarten has been the target of thieves before. In January, nearly all its outdoor equipment was stolen - including picnic tables, a ceramic water feature and several Tonka trucks toys.

"It just comes to the same question: Why target a kindergarten? Of course the police said that they [the thieves] probably wouldn't care but it's really hard to explain to the children."

The community had worked hard to raise money for the kindergarten. "They don't understand the impact. We are trying to do major renovations for our children. I'm very angry," Ms Osborn said.

The kindergarten had to install a large outdoor storage shed after the January burglary.

Insurance helped replace the items but because it had been targeted again it was likely the premiums would rise. On top of the cost of building the shed, it's another expense the kindergarten could do without, Ms Osborn said.

Parent Erin Locke was disgusted to learn of the break-in.

"Really, that's stealing from young children," Ms Locke said.

"And we have seen them work so hard at fundraising. Everyone has pulled together and then it's taken away. It's not fair."

Daughter Lucie, 3, was sad that people would do such a thing. Lucie said the theft was "not good".

Another concerned parent, Theresa Cave, said she hoped the local community would keep a look-out for the kindergarten and its missing items.

"It is really disheartening for the teachers and kids," Ms Cave said.

The kindergarten had limited funding and had only recently been reimbursed for the last burglary.

Police dusted for fingerprints and removed the alcohol bottle to help track down the culprits.

Acting Senior Sergeant Wayne Lambert encouraged anyone who saw something to say something.

"There needs to be some vigilance on the part of the local community that if there is someone out there taking opportunities to steal from community based groups, those people need to be held accountable."

If anyone noticed suspicious behaviour in the Minden Rd area over the weekend, contact Tauranga police, 0800 SPEAK UP or www.twitter.com/boppolice or www.facebook.com/boppolice.