Kidderminster charity shops hit by thieves
Thieves are targeting charity shops in Kidderminster, stealing vital donations and prompting staff to spend hundreds of pounds strengthening security.
They have struck at The Kemp Hospice shop in Oxford Street six times during the past three months, staff revealed today. The nearby Forest Dog Rescue shop has also reported a spate of thefts over the year.
Police said today officers had been out to the shops to investigate the crimes and offer security advice to staff.
In the latest raid at the Kemp Hospice shop, thieves used specialist cutting equipment to force their way into the stock storage area before making off with clothing and bric-a-brac.
Shop manager Rita Willetts said the break-ins had been "demoralising" for staff who were left to clear up the mess left behind.
The shop has been forced to spend up to £1,000 fitting grilles to windows and doors in a bid to thwart the thieves
Mrs Willetts said: "We have had to fit grilles to doors and windows after raiders forced open doors and scattered items all over the rear yard.
"We thought it was just opportunist thieves but last time they used cutting equipment and we now feel the thieves have started to make a major effort to break into the premises to find items they could then sell. We feared they might break into the main section of the shop and have since been advised how to beef up security.
"The problem is that any outlay is eating into the takings and the money that goes to the Kemp Hospice."
At the Forest Dog Rescue shop, also in Oxford Street, more than £1,000 worth of merchandise was stolen during the past year. Bosses there were forced to buy closed circuit television cameras in an attempt to try to catch the thieves.
By Sue Smith
