Twp Ashfield charity shops burgled in latest spate of raids

Thieves broke into The Children’s Society Shop on Outram Street Sutton last weekend and The Vine Tree charity shop on High Street Stanton Hill was raided in the early hours of Wednesday.

Mananger of the Vine Tree Heather Webster said: “In the early hours of the morning the police contacted us to say we had been broken into.

“They kicked the bottom of the door in and made away with a small amount of float cash.

“Three men were witnessed leaving the shop with their faces covered in scarves at 1.30am.

“The police have taken forensic evidence and they might be linked - it seems too much of a coincidence to me.

“There does seem to be a trend of people breaking into charity shops for some reason.

“The Vine Tree gives all its cash back to the local community and it annoys me that it is probably someone from the community who has done it.

“We give money to local sports, children’s groups and vulnerable adults like the partially sighted and plough it back into the community.”

She said the Vine Tree was looking at extra security measures at the shop.

Lynne McMahon, Retail & Trading Director for The Children’s Society added: “It’s upsetting that our charity shop in Sutton-in-Ashfield was broken into over the weekend.

“The shop raises vital funds for disadvantaged children and the money we receive goes to children and young people in desperate need, so we are currently working with the police in their investigations.

“The shop employs many local volunteers and is still very much open for business so we continue to welcome our customers, donors and volunteers through our doors.”

The raids come just weeks after the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance charity shop was reopened after thieves forced its closure.

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire police said they could not confirm if the two raids were linked.