Less than two hours after Benalla’s yarnbombing was installed on Sunday, eight pieces had been removed and stolen.

In the nine years that the Benalla Yarnbombers have been brightening the winter months with their colourful installation, only a couple of pieces had been taken.

President of the Benalla Yarnbombers, Chris Dunster, said it was heartbreaking given the volunteer hours and donations that go into creating the display.

“We put the yarn up and photographed them between 3pm and 4pm on Sunday (July 26),” she said.

“At 6.30pm we got a message saying that some had been stolen and there was a person walking around the CBD wearing one of the tree wraps.”

Ms Dunster said eight pieces in total were missing, from Bridge St East and Carrier St near Coles and the Uniting Church.

“We lost the tree wrap and some of the bollard covers, including the one with all the kangaroos on it, which is such a shame,” she said.

“There was weeks and weeks of work just in that kangaroo one.

“And it's a group process. It's quite a collaborative process to make the bollards.

“It’s not one person that does each bollard. We all contribute and then put it together as a group.”

Ms Dunster said it was a petty act to steal them, and she hoped community members might have seen something.

“It would have happened just on dusk,” she said.

“So there would have been people around.

“We've had to go out and buy more bike locks to secure the work which remains, which is such a shame.”

Ms Dunster’s message to the thieves is to do the right thing.

“'Please return it, them,” she said.

“Just put them back over what's there, and we'll pick them up because someone will notice them.”

She said a police report had been submitted, and if anyone saw anything or had CCTV or dashcam footage of the theft to please contact Benalla police.

While disappointed that someone would steal parts of the installation, Ms Dunster said the joy it brought the community meant there was no chance they would let this incident stop future yarnbombing.

“We get great feedback from the community,” she said.

“I just love seeing how much the kids enjoy it.

“I watched a little child the other day walk past the bollards near the newsagent and patted the one with the cockatoo on the top and held the hand of the little bollard that was beside him.

“And I thought, that's why we do it."

Despite the theft, there is still plenty of yarnbombing to enjoy.

Locals and visitors alike are encouraged to take a walk around the CBD and look for all the yarnbombed creations.

“I’ve just put Fernando the Fisherman in the window of Red B4 Bookshop,” Ms Dunster said.

“There is a bride and groom up at the Uniting Church.

“There’s a display in Milner’s pharmacy, which includes the landscape we took to (the yarnbombing festival in) Germany and some at Bertalli’s Bakery.

“We also have an installation at the library.”

Ms Dunster said it was interesting to note this year that it’s not just people enjoying the installation.

“When we pulled out the bag that had all the pom-poms in it, the magpies started swooping it immediately,” she said.

“They watched us as we put them up, down near Aggys.

“They hadn’t disturbed us all day. I guess they just like the pom-poms.”

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Wednesday, 6th April 2033

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