A mum-of-four who hoped to turn her hobby into cash for charity suffered a devastating blow after thieves stole her work.
Jackie Moulder, 47, had spent years building up her collection of handmade luxury celebration cards which she hoped to sell to raise money for the Basingstoke branch of the National Autistic Society (NAS).
She fears that the heartless crooks will sell on her handiwork and is appealing for help to try and get them back.
The theft took place between 10.20pm on August 20 and 6.30am the following day when her garage in Dover Close, Winklebury, was broken into.
She believes that a device was used to break the lock.
Despite the garage being filled with bicycles and some electrical items, the thieves only took the six pink boxes of cards and a garden chair.
Jackie told the Observer: “I was shocked when I found out. I was surprised that the bikes did not go.
“I was upset because a lot of work had gone into those cards.
“Nobody knew the cards where in there. There were several hundred – all of them handmade.
“We had a few stalls coming up where we were hoping to sell them and give the profit to the society.
“I was more disappointed rather than being angry. We told the police, but, unfortunately, garage thefts happen quite often, so there was not much they could do.”
Jackie lives with her four children, Luke, 18, Zoé, 17, Jessica, 15, and Dreyer, 13, three of whom have autism. She works as a full-time carer for Dreyer.
She said her experience dealing with the condition inspired her to raise money for NAS.
Along with friends Jackie Tungate and Angela Stothard, she started creating the bespoke cards after joining a monthly craft workshop at Nancyz Crafts at the Basepoint Centre on Stroudley Road.
She decided to try and sell them following the launch of the NAS branch earlier this year.
Jackie said each card takes more than an hour to create, but despite the setback she is determined to build up the collection again.
“We have already started making some more,” she said. “We are not going to give up.
“The money made would not have been a lot, but it would have helped.
“Having three children with autism, I know these organisations do not get a lot of funding, so every little helps.”
Anyone with information about the theft of the cards is urged to call Basingstoke police station on 101 Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
