A SMALL Riverina community has rallied behind a cancer charity hit by thieves during a brazen attack on a local hotel.
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Thieves broke through a window of South Hay Hotel in the early hours of July 23, leapt on the bar and snatched more than $2000 that had been stuck to the roof by patrons as part of a novel fundraiser for Hay CanAssist.
Despite CCTV footage of the act, police are yet to arrest the offenders, believed to be ice addicts from the town.
And in a moving example of Hay’s charitable heart, the community has deluged the hotel with more donations, pouring in a remarkable $8000 since the theft.
Among the donors was a nine-year-old girl who emptied her piggy bank of $200, a patron who donated $1500 from a pub jackpot, a young boy who donated $300 from a school cake stall and dozens of farmers bringing in cartons of beer and loads of firewood for a fundraising raffle.
Hotel owners Ed and Sue Vitucci have experienced the best and worst of humanity in the space of a month.
But they said the cascade of goodwill proved the forces of good in the community far outweighed the bad.
“Everyone in this community has been touched by cancer in some way, even the two that stole the money,” Mrs Vitucci said.
“It’s been amazing to see the response.”
Sadly, the tradition of sticking real money to the roof has ended, with patrons now handing money over at the bar and sticking play money up instead.
“People were coming in and throwing $50 and $100 notes up after the theft,” Mrs Vitucci said.
“I couldn’t sleep worrying it would get stolen again so we’ve replaced it with play money.”
Mrs Vitucci said it was frustrating knowing who the thieves were but not being able to bring them to justice.
“Police are doing their best, we just need more people to come forward with information,” she said.
“In the same week we were robbed, a local furniture store and auto electrician were hit and they entered the premises the same way.”
The hotel has raised more than $35,000 for CanAssist all-up.
Its affiliation with the charity started in 2009, when local barfly Jack Gannon passed away and the Vituccis saw first-hand the help CanAssist offered. Mrs Vitucci later became secretary of the local branch.
Anyone with information about the theft should contact Hay Police on 6993 1100 or CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
