A centre that offers support to families of children with a disability say they're unsure when they'll be able to reopen after being hit by thieves.
All Abilities Mackay, which offers play sessions, resources and equipment for local families, was broken into at the weekend.
Cupboards were emptied and items smashed, with glass strewn through a foam play pit.
"We've done a rough clean up but we've got to go back and pull everything out, check every piece of foam … and it's going to take some time before it's safe for children," centre director Elsa van den Heever said.
"I can't let children into the building and say don't touch any of those, don't do this, don't do that … it's heartbreaking."
She said the facility was the only one of its kind in the region and allowed people of all abilities to meet and interact with others.
The break-in and vandalism has caused distress not only for the families who access the centre and its programs, but also volunteers.
"Each time I go there I check is the gate closed, is the door shut, what am I going to find, is somebody going to be waiting for me," Ms van den Heever said.
Destructive rampage
The attack on the All Abilities Mackay building was one of several similar break-ins in the region at the weekend.
The Mackay Museum, next door, was also targeted.
Mackay Crime Prevention Unit officer Steve Smith said a lot of damage was done in each of them.
"It's quite normal for us to see damage to gain entry, but this was quite crude," Senior Constable Smith said.
"The unnecessary vandalism committed inside the business is quite offensive.
"Thieves are usually quite targeted for what they're looking for so jobs like this with damage that's quite extravagant is unusual.
"It raises the hackles for investigators … when you see community helpers as victims, there's always that extra element of motivation to try and solve it."
Ms van den Heever said she can't understand why those responsible targeted their building.
"We don't have any valuables there, we don't keep money, we don't have medication, the resources we have are for people with a disability," she said.
Television sets were smashed and computer equipment was stolen, including the centre's modem.
Encouraging community response
Ms van den Heever said people started arriving at the centre to help with the clean up as soon as the break-in was discovered.
"We had a glazier come that same day and boarded up the broken windows, somebody dropped off a trailer for us to use so we could do tip runs," she said.
"People have been ringing and messaging offering support and help."
She said her organisation was looking at how to fund increased security to prevent break-ins.
"We really need to get security cameras in, we need to get a good alarm system as well, but it's costly," she said.
Ms van den Heever said she was unsure when the centre would reopen, but promised the centre would operate again.
