A FIRM providing vital transport services for elderly people and children with additional needs has been left out of pocket after five minibuses were stolen and three more badly damaged.
Bosses at Kinect Services, based at Sappers Farm, Wickford, were left reeling yesterday morning after discovering they had been hit by thieves overnight.
The company, which provides support for hundreds of elderly people, adults and children with additional needs every day, fears it will cost in the region of £180,000 to replace and repair the minibuses.
Yesterday, the company hired vehicles so they could continue providing the service, but have been left fearing how they will cope in coming days.
Laura Boxham, manager for customer relations at Kinect Services, said: “It is a big hit. We have approximately 189 routes across various local authorities, and we have a lot of young people and adults that we transport.
“We make thousands of trips each day and it is having the effect where some of these vehicles may be used as spares. There are back-ups but not those eight vehicles affected.
“Everyone we needed to transport we did, to and from school, and that is down really to our hardworking planning team. They got those young people and adults to their places.
The break-in and theft on Sunday, at around 9pm, saw thieves cut the locks to access vehicles.
Five 16-seater minibuses were stolen from the business and a further three were damaged.
One of the vehicles was totally stripped for parts.
Laura added that one of the vehicles had been “completely stripped”, with the engine removed, and was left in the vehicle lock-up, with damage to two vehicles coming when they were crashed into as the thieves made an escape.
She added: “We want to make a difference and we are a care company. We do home care and we have the same vision to ensure that young people and adults get where they need to be.
“We need those vehicles in a safe state. For someone to do what they did, it is not just the vehicles it affects, it is people’s lives and for whatever reason they don’t care.”
Kinect Services has urged people to keep an eye out for their stolen vehicles, and to contact their offices if anyone saw anything suspicious around their operating centre.
The incident has been reported to Essex Police and anyone with information should call 101.
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