Tools stolen from Willows Dementia Hub as joiner volunteers to create summer house for residents and loved ones

Thieves have once again targeted the Willows Dementia Hub, this time stealing tools being used to create a summer house for residents and their families.

Following the government announcement that care homes can permit one visitor per resident as of Monday (8 March), staff at the Willows decided to have a summer house built in the garden to give residents and their loved ones some “much-needed private, quality time together after an awful year.”

However, whilst a joiner was working on the new summer house on Saturday (6 March), a car pulled into the car park at the hub before its occupants emptied the van of its tools.

The devastating theft has left the joiner with no tools to work – but this didn’t stop him borrowing some tools and finishing the summer house the following day.

A crowdfunder has been set up to help replace the stolen tools:

• www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/willows-emergency-appeal

The Willows’ Danielle Dutton said: “It is absolutely disgraceful that people would target a dementia hub, effectively stealing from vulnerable residents. If the work couldn't have been completed after the theft, residents wouldn’t have had have a safe space to reconnect with family. We’re hoping to help the joiner with fundraising to replace his tools like he was helping us by volunteering his time.

“We have clear CCTV of the car used in the theft, also showing the driver’s face which we hope will be identifiable.

“The local community were an amazing support to us when our garden furniture was taken last summer, and we are hoping everyone can pull together again to bring these thieves to justice.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "Police were called at 1.15pm on Saturday 6 March to a report of a theft from a motor vehicle on Broad Lane, Rochdale.

"The offenders are understood to have forced entry into the car and stolen a quantity of items before making off in another vehicle.

"No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing."

 

 

The Willows opened in November 2018, bringing together health and social care to provide pioneering integrated care and support for those living with dementia. Facilities include 18 high-quality residential rooms, respite accommodation, family rooms for relatives and a range of community services.

Last Easter, thieves stole the residents’ rattan garden furniture, which had been provided through fundraising.
 

Read more: Community spirit alive as local companies replace garden furniture stolen from Willows Dementia HubPublished: 22 April 2020

The stolen furniture was incredibly recovered, with local companies Minky and LuxuryRattan stepping in to donate new furniture whilst a fundraiser was set up to replace damaged items which had been recovered.

Anyone with information about the tool theft is asked to call Greater Manchester Police on 101, quoting incident 1419 of 06/03/2021.

Details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

To donate to the fundraiser for the joiner, please visit:

• www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/willows-emergency-appeal