Gardai investigate 'mean crime' after five tonnes of donated Lego stolen

A whole shipping container filled with tons of lego and schoolbooks, destined for an impoverished African community, has been stolen in Laois, Laois Live reports.

The theft has been described as 'a mean crime' by gardaí, who are appealing to the public to remember if they saw it.

The Lego heist took place between February 2 and March 7, from Clonaslee village in Laois.

It is suspected that the main focus was the container itself, but the public are being asked to report any suspicious sales of large amounts of secondhand lego.

It had been painstakingly gathered up over many months from hundreds of kind children around Ireland, and was to be brought to Chisi Island in Malawi by humanitarian worker Evin Joyce, and his sister Ailbhe, from Glenbarrow in the Slieve Blooms.

Ailbhe Joyce collecting a consignment of donated lego.

Evin has made a passionate appeal to recover it, speaking as he boarded a flight back to Africa.

"This will be the first time in five years flying to Malawi where I haven't maxed out my baggage allowance with Lego and schoolbooks that have been so generously donated by yourselves. That's hundreds of kids through dozens of schools across the country. 

"The reason is because they have been stolen along with the shipping container they were in. They have been stolen from Clonaslee, between the dates of February 2 and March 7.

"The shipping container is 20 ft long, it's grey, it's practically new and it contained about five tonnes of lego. 

"It didn't just disappear. So if you know somebody who's working in haulage or shipping can you please share this message with them. So they can check the code number SKIU 292388.0. The container may have been repainted but it won't change the excellent condition. If they've seen a container pop up on the market with that code or without a code number, then that's a good lead.

"That lego, based on the prices lego is sold secondhand, is worth tens of thousands of euros. 

So if you see lego for sale, not just a little bit but a lot, or a very steady supply of it, please get in touch with Garda Ward in Tulamore Garda Station.

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"That's the monetory value of the lego to the people who stole it. It also has a huge value to the children and the nursery teachers that we are working with on Chisi Island, Citima parish in Malawi. Let's find this lego please. It's out there. It didn't just disappear. We can get it back," Mr Joyce said.

Children in Chisi Island playing with lego donated from Laois and Ireland.

Laois Offaly Garda Division is investigating the theft. A senior member spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"It's a mean crime. The train is fairly cold but we are depending on information from someone in Clonaslee who may have noticed something. A truck and a hoist would have been needed to lift this. We are appealing for information and we would be hopeful," the senior garda said. 

Anyone with information can contact Garda Ward at Tullamore Station at 057 932 7600, or the division HQ in Portlaoise Garda Station 057 8621105 or Mountmellick garda station on 057 8624140.

For more on donating to Evin and Ailbhe Joyce's humanitarian work see www.ulemu.com