Alocal service organisation was subject to a break in last week in which thieves took funds which were to be donated to local veterans.

Culprits took an estimated $80-200 worth of recyclable cans and bottles from a shed at the Mount Gambier RSL Sub-branch which were collected for the Veterans and RSL Museum fund.

The recyclables were saved up for about three months and are often used to supply food for Veterans on Friday nights or on commemorative occasions such as Anzac Day.

Mount Gambier RSL Sub-branch committee member Ian Summers said the offenders cut open the wire, emptied the cans from the crates into two of the service organisation’s recycling bins and trampled some of the nearby poppy beds with the discarded crates.

“It must have happened after 11pm on Monday night because I drove past after 11pm and I did not see anybody here,” he said.

“There were still crates in there, but the empty ones which were full of cans they fed through that wire so there must have been two people doing it.

“It has been reported to police, the council have been notified about the two bins and that’s all we can do.

“Why steal things and damage things where it makes it hard because we’re all volunteers here too.

“It’s up to them to own up, say sorry and all that stuff but we’re fixing it up.

“It’s a pity it has happened here.”

Mr Summers said he would like to see those who stole the recyclables anonymously return the money to the Mount Gambier RSL Sub-branch.