Thieves target two Sheffield care homes during coronavirus pandemic

Thieves have raided two care homes in Sheffield, targeting one just hours after residents had finished applauding key workers for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.
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A fundraising appeal has been launched after the homes in Hackenthorpe and Richmond, both run by the charity Sheffcare, were burgled in the space of just over a month during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Cotleigh care home in Hackenthorpe was the first to be targeted, with tables and chairs worth more than £600 being stolen from an outdoor staff break time area.

Staff at the charity Sheffcare, two of whose care homes in Sheffield have been targeted by thieves during the coronavirus pandemicStaff at the charity Sheffcare, two of whose care homes in Sheffield have been targeted by thieves during the coronavirus pandemic
Staff at the charity Sheffcare, two of whose care homes in Sheffield have been targeted by thieves during the coronavirus pandemic
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They were taken on the evening of Thursday, April 8, just hours after neighbours had joined the national round of applause for key workers like the carers at Cotleigh.

A month later, on Friday, May 8, thieves left a trail of destruction at Housteads care home in Richmond as they stole items from a secure garden area created specially for residents living with dementia.

Sheffcare has launched an online appeal to replace the stolen goods, with donations already totalling more than £500 of the £3,000 target.

“We were appalled and saddened that two of our homes were targeted in this particularly cruel way,” said Sheffcare chief executive Belinda Black.

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“The staff at all 10 of our homes have been working tirelessly under very challenging circumstances throughout these difficult times so you can imagine how they feel when this sort of thing happens.

“We know from the messages of support we have received since the thefts that the majority of people are as shocked as we are by this sort of behaviour.”

To donate, visit: gofundme.com/f/sheffcare-ltd.