First it was Knuckles, and now Tails – full name, Miles ‘Tails’ Prower – has been stolen from the Sonic the Hedgehog display outside the Ladysmith Community Health Centre, (LCHC).
RELATED: Knuckles has been returned to LCHC display
When thieves stole Knuckles from the display on Canada Day weekend, the figure was returned within 48 hours of the theft. Unfortunately, Tails, who was taken on the Labour Day long weekend, is still missing.
Jackie Bates spent days creating the Tails figure, alongside her brother Ricky and her fiance, Mark Turner.
“There was such an uproar about Knuckles getting taken that I’m surprised someone tried this again,” Bates said. “I don’t know if it was just for attention, or because they really liked it, but Tails was my character, and I worked really hard on him. It’s upsetting.”
Bates suffers from cystic fibrosis, and knows many of the nurses at the LCHC. Bates said she was inspired to make the display because of her close relationship with the LCHC nurses.
LCHC leader, Sarah Westgate, said it was disappointing that another figure has been taken from the display.
“We’re definitely missing Tails,” she said. “This is a very meaningful donation for us to see that someone who used health care services was expressing this amount of gratitude, and let the community know how much we’re appreciated.”
Some in the communtiy have speculated that the display may have to come down if theft continues, while others have suggested putting the display on the roof. Westgate said that LCHC plans to keep the display right where it is, and she hopes to keep it in place throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If pieces continue to go missing we may have to look at an alternative location, or fixing it down a bit more. I like to believe that we can leave it where it is.”
The thief is encouraged to return Tails to the LCHC as soon as possible.
“Please return Tails,” Westgate said. “There will be no reprecussions… We just want to have Tails back. It’s so meaningful to our community.”