NORTH FITZROY, VIC. — The CEO of Australia’s largest independent refugee charity, Kon Karapanagiotidis, has issued an emotional plea after the centre was robbed at about 3.30am on Monday, September 28, with vans stolen and safes smashed.
Melbourne refugee charity, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), has been left reeling after thieves allegedly spent two nights casing the site before smashing their way inside and stealing two catering vans worth more than $100,000.
Chief executive Kon Karapanagiotidis OAM said thieves smashed a roller door, destroyed a safe and stole food during a break-in at around 3.30am at the ASRC Catering division in North Fitzroy, which has left staff greatly distressed.
He claimed footage showed the offenders had allegedly watched the centre for two nights before breaking in, leading him to describe the incident as a “professional co-ordinated robbery”.
“This was not desperate people in desperate times,” Mr Karapanagiotidis told VicNews.
The ASRC’s catering social enterprise uses the two stolen vehicles, which provide employment opportunities for refugees and people seeking asylum.
One van is a white Renault van with registration 1QR 8PO, while the other is a white Peugeot van with registration 1UO 2YV.
Mr Karapanagiotidis said the vans were worth more than $100,000 combined and their theft would immediately affect the organisation’s ability to operate.
“We can’t run our social enterprise without those bloody vans,” he said.
“I’m now online looking to book some for tomorrow [today], so we can keep those people working and we can keep delivering to our good customers who are kind enough to support us.”
The ASRC operates social enterprises including catering and cleaning, employing more than 100 people on award wages.
For many of those workers, Mr Karapanagiotidis said, the jobs represented a crucial first step in rebuilding their lives in Australia.
“They’ve fled everything from the Taliban, war, civil war, displacement (and) torture,” he said.
“They’re often highly skilled people who have just got no relevant work experience and their qualifications aren’t recognised.”
The break-in has therefore had an impact beyond the financial cost, with workers now worried about whether their workplace remains safe.
“These are people that have fled danger,” Mr Karapanagiotidis said.
“What’s the one thing you don’t want to do as their employer? Have them in a space where they’ve just had someone break in and cause damage and steal vans.
“People are stressed, people are scared and angry.”
In a Facebook video posted online following the theft, Mr Karapanagiotidis said he was “absolutely devastated” by the raid.
“Who steals from a charity?” he said.
“The most important thing is everyone is okay. These are things that we can replace. But this is a place that creates jobs for people, often their first job. It’s their safe place.”
The incident is not the first time the organisation has been targeted, with Mr Karapanagiotidis saying a similar theft occurred last year.
He said the ASRC would now have to spend thousands of dollars on additional security, while also paying to hire replacement vans.
The organisation does not know how much of the loss will be covered by insurance.
Mr Karapanagiotidis said he did not know why the centre had been targeted and was reluctant to link the crime to the current political debate around refugees and immigration.
“I don’t want to … just say that,” he said.
“It could have been people that are just kind of flipping it, chopping it up for parts. They could be using it. Could they use it as cover for a crime? Could they use it to transport something illegal?
Mr Karapanagiotidis said Victoria Police had been notified and collected details of the stolen vehicles.
He has urged members of the public to contact police on Triple Zero (000) if they spot either vehicle.
The response from supporters has already been significant, with Mr Karapanagiotidis saying he had received hundreds of messages.
The ASRC is also seeking donations to help cover costs not met by insurance, including replacement vehicles and additional security.
One person writing: “Absolutely pathetic to steal from the very people holding the most vulnerable parts of our community together.”
Another described the incident as “beyond traumatic and heinous”.
For Mr Karapanagiotidis, the financial damage was only part of the problem.
“We’ve gone through this a few times now,” he said.
“You don’t want to lose your humanity. You don’t want to be too angry.
“I don’t want to lose my empathy and humanity after our charity had 2 vans stolen. So while I’m gutted right now to the point of tears, the most important message I have to share is we need to deal with the root cause of crime.
“It’s actually not longer jail terms & mandatory sentencing that traps people into a pipeline of re-offending which ends up costing us all far more.
“It’s a liveable universal income for all, raising the rate, affordable housing, food+utilities & far more social housing. A tax on gas, real gambling reform to free dental. It’s tackling income inequality & concentration of wealth in the hands of the 1 per cent.
“That’s what I would like to see take from this.
“But at the end of the day, who robs a charity of all the places to rob?” Mr Karapanagiotidis said.
You can donate to the ASRC here.
Victoria Police did not respond to requests for comment.
