THERE are crimes and then there are dog acts. The overnight theft of a charity box for the blind is being described as the latter. Between Wednesday night and Thursday morning a Guide Dogs Tasmania collection box was stolen from Coles in Wellington Street, Launceston. The smash-and-grab raid saw a large rock used to break the supermarket's front window. "We are very disappointed that anyone would steal from a charity," Guide Dogs Tasmania chief executive Dan English said. "We appreciate the money that people put in there." One Launceston resident said the crime deserved public shaming. "To steal from a charity is the lowest act," he said. "Sometimes I wonder at the lack of the most basic of common decencies of some in our community." The funds from the collection are used to buy goods and services for the charity. The empty collection box was later located. Tasmania Police Sergeant Gavin Hallett said the matter was being investigated. Coles declined to comment. Business burglaries have skyrocketed by more than 60per cent in Northern Tasmania since July last year. Anecdotally police are blaming the rise on people sourcing funds to buy drugs. A business forum was held earlier this year in Launceston to target the problem.
