Bouncing bandits take toll on family
Vandals who stole and destroyed a trampoline belonging to a South Surrey family last week did more than break the law. They devastated a seven-year-old girl and her brothers.
“I could cry thinking about it,” said Lynda Honing. “It’s just so disturbing.”
The mother discovered the theft Friday, when she took the family’s puppy out to the backyard, which neighbours Jessie Lee Elementary.
Honing was shocked to find the trampoline had been lifted from the yard – over landscaping and a 4½-foot fence – and hauled at least 50 metres onto the school’s property.
Investigating further, she found more than two dozen beer cans and an empty 40-ounce bottle of rum littering the area around the displaced trampoline. The year-old equipment was damaged beyond repair.
Honing and her husband, Michael, said the crime is compounded by two facts: the trampoline was bought primarily to aid in the physical therapy of their daughter, Isabelle, who has Down Syndrome; and older brother Spencer, 14, had pitched in half of the $350 tab, using money he’d earned from his paper route.
With their older brother, 16-year-old Makenzy, the siblings made use of the trampoline daily.
A police report was made, and the Honings are planning to build a higher fence in the hopes of preventing future invasions.
They’re also appealing to citizens to keep an ear out for any information that could identify those responsible. Those details may be reported to Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.
From those who did the damage, the Honings want to know why they believed it was even remotely acceptable.
“There’s a huge repercussion, and it’s left a bitter note,” Lynda Honing said. “These kids… should feel disgusted in themselves for doing such a terrible thing.”
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