Anger as thieves steal youth centre’s equipment

CALLOUS thieves ransacked the offices of a Northside
youth centre leaving its members with nothing other than some furniture and
paper work.

Coolock-based Sphere 17, which works with
approximately 1,500 teenagers a year, was dealt a devastating blow when
everything of value was stolen from its offices on Clonshaugh Drive.

Equipment worth several thousand euro was taken from
the offices of the regional youth service last Sunday week, January 21.

Youth project leader Brian Conneely believes the
robbery was planned and carried out with precision.

“They (thieves) cut the power to the security lights
and to the office,

? Mr Conneely told Northside People.

“They lifted off the window without breaking it and
managed to get through the security bars that are on the windows.

“They broke all the door frames and went from room to
room going through drawers, presses and filing cabinets, taking everything that
was valuable.

?

Among the items stolen were four laptops, two
camcorders, a new printer, Playstation, Xbox, games and

?¬120 that had been
raised by the centre’s members and due to be donated to charity.

“It was well thought out and wasn’t done in a panic by
any means,

? Mr Conneely stated.

“It was just heartbreaking to see the offices
ransacked like that especially since most of the equipment was bought with a
grant, and we had just got the place wired up for broadband.

?

Mr Conneely explained how the service has been
severely affected by the robbery.

“We are trying to operate our programmes with
literally just pen and paper,

? he said.

“In this day and age everything centres around the
availability of information on the internet.

“I know we’re living in tough times but nobody can
justify breaking into a youth centre and taking everything of value.

Mr Conneely added:

“We lost three staff before
Christmas because of cutbacks and now this. Our resources have been cut to
nothing now but we’re still trying to get by.

?

Last year, over half the youth population of the
catchment area of Dublin 17 used the services provide by the Sphere 17 youth
project.