NEW ZEALAND COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM WOMEN'S CENTERMANAWATU STANDARD - STORY : New Zealand's leading news and information websiteRefuge in chaos after thefts
15 March 2005
By LEE MATTHEWS

For the second time in three days, the Palmerston North Women's Centre has been hit by burglars, and computers containing sensitive information were stolen in the most recent theft.

Women's refuge worker Erena Craig said the day-to-day operations of the refuge have been thrown into chaos. The computers were used to store data, including statistics needed before some $16,000 of contract funding can be paid.

They also contain sensitive information about women who have been at the refuge, but it is password-protected and Ms Craig is confident the computers were not stolen for any information on their hard drives.

"We are very certain that is not the case and we don't want anyone to be alarmed by that thought. We've no reason to think it (the burglary) was carried out by someone who wanted any sensitive information.

"At this stage we are just hoping, desperately, to get the computers back, no questions asked."

Palmerston North police detective Dave Thompson said he would be concerned if a partner of one of the refuge's clients had taken the computers.

One computer is a Hewlett-Packard, the other an Acer. A Brother laser printer, a scanner and associated monitors, keyboards and mice were taken.

"We're hoping somebody might know someone who's offering these computers around. I expect they'll be flicked on to someone, $150 each sort of thing," Ms Craig said.

"We'd offer a reward, but we're a community group and we've got no money for that."

Some of the information had been backed up on floppy discs, but Ms Craig said recent staff changes mean she is floundering to find exactly what has been done and what is missing.

"We've been so busy helping women and children over Christmas and the New Year, and we've been so short-staffed that the emergencies have taken priority," she said.

"I'm angry, but I'm feeling stupid, too, because when this sort of thing happens, you always think that perhaps with more vigilance, more time, more hours in the day, some of the problems might have been avoided."

When the centre was burgled on Thursday night, food and toiletries were stolen. Ms Craig believes teenagers were responsible.

She believes the same burglars decided to come back for the computers on Saturday night.

The computers were given to the refuge just before Christmas by a Palmerston North company, in response to public pleas for help.

"We were so grateful. And the machines were exactly what we needed."

After Thursday's burglary, the centre started to upgrade its security, but Ms Craig said apparently not enough was done to prevent a further break-in.

Other things taken by the burglars include donated household items, clothing, food and toiletries that the organisation gives to destitute women. Even a stack of gift-wrapped presents, to comfort unhappy children, were stolen. A Rangitikei church group had these left over from its charity Christmas tree and had donated them.

"They even took our toaster from the kitchen," Ms Craig said