Express & Star comment: Those who hit charity are lowest
There are some criminals who will stoop to any depths when carrying out their illicit enterprises.
And if there was any sort of despicability measure in the case of thieves, then those who steal from charities would rank as some of the worst.
They would be right there with the vermin who prey on the elderly and the vulnerable.
The ordeal that the DADS charity in Cannock has been through of late makes for dreadful reading.
In the last five months the charity has been targeted no fewer than three times.
The latest incident saw children's toys and hundreds of pounds worth of tools stolen.
The charity shop was also broken into in September, while a month later an expensive piece of equipment was stolen from a trailer at the premises.
The type of people that carry out these raids are the lowest of the low.
It is impossible to reason with such unscrupulous characters, who think only of their own personal gain.
They do not spare a moment's thought for the people they hurt by their callous actions.
During the latest attack on DADS, the culprit was captured on CCTV entering the premises.
We urge readers to take a close look at the images in today's Express & Star to see if they recognise the person involved.
Anyone with information about this crime should contact the police immediately.
Of course, capturing the perpetrator is only half the battle.
Once the individual has been snared, we must then hope that our criminal justice system is able to mete out a suitable punishment.
All too often, this does not happen.
There is a very straightforward reason why so many criminals – particularly burglars – break the law time and time again.
How is it possible that criminals are appearing before our courts and walking away with suspended sentences, despite having lengthy histories of lawbreaking?
The fact that many criminals have such little regard for the law is directly related to a system where the punishment does not fit the crime.
We can only hope that if whoever is responsible for the disgraceful raid on DADS is caught, that true justice is delivered.
The public has had enough of our courts pandering to criminals.
