Volunteer Andrew Gibson has spent the last three years working on the bikes. Photo/Stephen Parker
Volunteer Andrew Gibson has spent the last three years working on the bikes. Photo/Stephen Parker
For Rotorua volunteer Andrew Gibson, fixing up old bikes for underprivileged locals had become almost his reason for living.
Now he and others have been left devastated after the Linton Park Community Centre made the "excruciating" decision to close its bike shed after eight thefts in two weeks.
The BikeShed, which had been running since 2014, refurbished a number of donated bikes that were then sold or donated to underprivileged locals.
The Rotorua Daily Post covered the community centre's first theft in March this year, when then manager Rick Mansell pleaded with thieves to "come and chat" to him if they really wanted the bikes.
But his request fell on deaf ears and less than six months later the community centre has been forced to close the shed.
Linton Park Community Centre have had to put up signs refusing new donations. Photo/Stephen Parker
During the multiple break-ins thieves had broken windows, damaged locks, stolen security cameras and used spray paint from within a locked cabinet to graffiti the exterior of the building.
"I am afraid our faith in human nature has been sadly dented," Mrs Mackenzie said.
"To be targeted like that was really devastating, we were getting incredibly stressed."
She said the reaction from the community was one of "total disbelief" and they still received regular phone calls from members of the public who wanted to help.
Lead volunteer Mr Gibson had spent five days a week in the bike workshop for the last three years.
"He has taken it very personally," Mrs Mackenzie said.
"Everybody we tell has just been devastated but for Andrew they have, and this may sound dramatic, but they have basically taken from him his reason for living."
Mr Gibson suffers from a learning disability and said it felt good doing something for the community and gave him a reason to get out of the house.
"I was gutted, all your hard work destroyed, I just feel like giving up," he said.
