Heartless thieves target bald tot's cash (From Western Telegraph)

Heartless thieves target bald tot's cash

9:00am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in News

Callous thieves have stolen money raised to give a Milford Haven tot a better quality of life.

Four-year-old Brooke Keesmaat suffers from Ectodermal dysplasia, a condition which affects her skin, nails, teeth and sweat glands. Born with just two strands of hair, Brooke who attends Meads Infant School, is now bald.

Earlier this year the Little Princess Trust, a charity providing wigs to children suffering hair loss, financed a brand new wig for Brooke. The long blonde wig was made with real hair and designed and created especially for Brooke at Todaro's in Milford Haven.

Her delighted family were so grateful to the charity they set about raising money to say thank you. A charity night at the Pill Social Centre with female impersonator Ceri Dupree raised £2,000. More money was raised by comedian Rhod Gilbert who was filming with Ceri Dupree as part of his work experience programme.

Although most of the funds were given to the charity, £500 was kept back to buy another custom made wig for Brooke as she got older.

However, between 12:30pm and 5:30pm on Tuesday (September 18th) thieves entered Brooke’s home on the Mount Estate and stole the cash.

“We were planning to buy a new wig this month,” said Brooke’s mum Kirsty Keesmaat. “She’s already grown out of the one that was bought in January and it’s starting to look worn. It’s like a pair of shoes the more you wear them the more they get worn out.

“All I know is whoever it was I want them punished, not because of my home being broken into but because that was money for Brooke, which makes it more devastating.

“This money was raised to help Brooke have a better quality of life. As she gets older, her appearance is important to her, this wig would have changed her life.”

Detective Geoff Asson of Dyfed-Powys Police urged members of the community, who may have vital information regarding the theft to contact Milford Haven CID either by calling 101 or by dialling Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

“This is a particularly despicable theft,” said Det Asson. “The money taken was raised to help a four year-old girl who suffers with a severe condition.

“We believe that this was a targeted crime and those responsible were only interested in taking this much-needed money.”