Thieves were busy stealing students’ bikes from Keysborough’s Maralinga Primary School as the school’s 210 students, including, from left, Shelby, Nathan and Rouza, performed for the community in the school’s What A Day! musical on Monday at the Chandler Community Centre.
By Shaun Inguanzo
A KEYSBOROUGH primary school’s students are shattered after thieves stole three bicycles including one belonging to a physically impaired girl.
The thefts occurred as students rehearsed and performed a musical at a nearby community centre.
Maralinga Primary School principal Peter Gray said the thefts appeared to be targeted as they happened when the entire school went to Chandler Community Centre on three occasions including twice for rehearsals last week and once for a matinee performance of What A Day! on Monday.
“It is really disappointing and sad for the individual kids,” he said.
“It’s even more disappointing to lose them while the school was out putting all of its efforts into (What A Day!), performing for residents of local retirement villages and students from other schools.”
One of the three bikes belonged to a student with a physical impairment, and it had been modified to carry the student’s crutch, Mr Gray said.
“For her to be able to ride a bike to school was a real breakthrough as she walks with a crutch,” Mr Gray said.
Mr Gray said bicycles were expensive for the students and their families to purchase, making the thefts even more disappointing.
“In a community where bikes, for some, are not easily replaced, we are encouraging our students to engage in an active lifestyle, then this happens.”
Mr Gray said there was no doubting that the attacks were planned while the school was away rehearsing What A Day!
“Obviously the person or people who have taken the bikes have had the knowledge that the bulk of the school was not going to be on site,” he said.
Only about a dozen students ride their bikes to school, Mr Gray said, and the thefts risked discouraging healthy activity for the children whose bikes were stolen.
“We’re doing a lot with regards to promoting a healthy lifestyle, and (the thefts) obviously remove that option for those kids.”
Mr Gray said Maralinga Primary School had reported the thefts to the Springvale Police Station, and was urging the community to come forward with information on the bikes’ whereabouts.
One of the bikes is a black and purple mountain bike, another is a black Diamond Back brand BMX bike, and the third bike is a blue girl’s bike with a modification to carry a crutch.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
