Community & Business
5 August, 2025
Brazen bush robberies clean out charity and farm
Drake charity devastated
Two major robberies in close proximity to each other in the Drake area have left locals devastated - and understandably anxious. Kerry Lord-Negus and Clare Urquhart have been left traumatised by blatant rural thievery which occurred in the last few weeks while no one was on the properties.
The two sites were completely sacked, in robberies that clearly couldn't have taken place without ample time on hand.
Kerry and her partner are slowly moving more of their belongings to their Leslie Creek property. When they arrived last, they immediately noticed the empty yard where two Landcruisers should have been.
The loss of the highly sought after 1985 vintage 60 series Landcruisers is devastating to the couple. The thieves must have brought tilt tray trucks in order to remove the vehicles as one of them wasn’t in running order. One was registered, the other not.
Kerry was audibly upset as she told the story.
“They smashed the lock off our gate to get in, made a huge mess of the place, stole tools, building materials and even a box of candles.”
It was just as bad and as thorough for her neighbours, the charity organisation Container of Dreams. Clare Urquhart, who started the organisation, told The Town & Country Journal that she happened to drive by a couple of weeks ago and saw the gate open. She was immediately suspicious.
She found the door to the locked shed had been kicked in and “everything was missing.”
Container of Dreams has operated since 2019, building tiny homes for local victims of natural disasters. Most of their diminutive shelters have been given to families in the Northern Rivers area and some have been donated in Tenterfield Shire. The organisation is run entirely by volunteers who rock up once a week to put in hard labour to improve the lives of others.
The tool collection had been built up over years through grants and donations. The criminals even stole a 10-month-old solar power batter which had cost nearly $20,000.
“Now we have no power, no tools,” Clare said.
On Kerry’s property, she was amazed to see that the robbers, which may or may not be the same individuals, even tried to steal their fireplace. They pulled it out of the wall and had it halfway through the open door before abandoning it.
Kerry relates that there was someone on the other side of Drake that recently had machinery stolen as well.
Unfortunately, between the time of the robbery and its discovery, heavy rain washed away all the tell-tale signs of truck and cars on the property.
Clare, who has a PhD in tiny homes, said that her first reaction was that the Container of Dreams wouldn’t be able to continue.
“I was absolutely devastated at first, I thought how are we going to recover, what are we going to do?”
Fortunately, members of the community have been quick to donate funds and tools, which is much appreciated by Clare and the 20 or so volunteers that regularly work there.
The police have come to both properties and a forensic specialist from Lismore. Clare thinks the police have “some ideas” but she has yet to hear any news of arrests, let alone recovery of goods.
Both women are certain that someone knows who has committed the robberies and plead for any information to help the investigation. Until arrests are made, all rural properties are at risk.
Want to help Container of Dreams with a donation of money or tools? Contact Clare at info@containerofdreams.org. Volunteers will pick up any donated tools.
