Grade six leavers tops among goods stolen from courier van at weekend

What should have been a fun rite of passage for students at an Eastern Shore primary school has been marred by a theft from the back of a courier truck.

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WHAT should have been a fun rite of passage for students at an Eastern Shore primary school has been marred by the theft of their long-awaited leavers tops.

Destined for grade six students at Bellerive Primary School, the polo tops were among several packages snatched from a courier van at the weekend.

Principal Steven Hay said it was disappointing both the students and the school community.

“Every year we organise the leaders tops with the children’s names on the back,” he said.

“The children are usually allowed to wear them in term four, but because of COVID we wanted to do something a bit special and organised them earlier this year.”

The tops were expected to arrive on Monday, with teachers hoping to surprise students with them early. But after inquiring about their whereabouts, school staff were shocked to find out they had been stolen.

“It was intended to be a big surprise for the students, but unfortunately we had to deliver the bad news instead,” he said.

He said they struggled to understand why anyone would take the tops.

“They’re not any use to anyone else,” he said.

“If we don’t get them back within two weeks we’ll have to reorder them, but then because of COVID we’re unlikely to get them until part-way through term four.”

Many members of the community have taken to social media to spread the word about the missing tops, and to urge for their return.

Uniform City, suppliers of the tops, could be faced with starting the tops again from scratch.

Sales manager Bettina Luc the person who stole the packages likely grabbed anything they could, not knowing they walked away with the students’ leavers tops.

“The poor students have already been waiting. We’ve had huge delays due to COVID and to try and resupply the tops will take even longer,” she said.

“They’ll all have to be done again, and they’re not something that can be done in just a few days.

“It would be lovely if someone handed them in. We’re hoping for the best, but expecting the worst.”

Tasmania Police is investigating the theft of several parcels from the courier van, which was parked at First Ave, West Moonah, between July 24 and 26.

Anyone with information can contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au.

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