A charity shop in Chichester which helps those who suffer from heart problems has hit out at heartless thieves swiping donation bags.
The British Heart Foundation in North Street had several bags of clothing and books stolen from outside the shop; some crooks are hooking out items from the clothing donation bank.
The problem has become a recurring theme as more customers are leaving donation bags outside the shop when it is closed.
Manager Becky Hilsdon said: “The stock being stolen was meant to pay for heart nurses, to help someone’s mum, dad, nan, child with heart problems. Stealing that stock is depriving someone of this care.
“Everyone somewhere knows someone who has had heart problems.”
Donation bags were last reported to have been stolen on February 16. In August last year the shop was targeted by arsonists, which damaged valuable donations. A large clothing donation bank was completely destroyed, which would have fetched hundreds of pounds for the charity.
Three large rubbish bins filled with unsaleable donations were also gutted out by the fire, which had taken place just inches away from the shop’s stock room.
Police said thefts from charity shops is an ongoing problem.
A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: “We can offer crime prevention advice to charity shop staff, and ask people not to leave donations and charity bags outside the shops when they are closed but to take them inside.”
For more information log on to www.bhf.org.uk