Heartless thieves trash hospice charity shop

DR Kershaw's charity shop volunteer Alison Taylor clears up

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DESTRUCTIVE thieves targeted a charity shop in an act which left staff feeling "violated."

Dr Kershaw's Chadderton Hospice Shop was found "trashed" when staff arrived for work yesterday morning.

The louts stole the contents of the charity's collection box in the overnight raid at the Middleton Road site in Chadderton Precinct.

A small window at the front of the building had been smashed to gain entry.

Income generation manager Lisa Pearson, who oversees the charity shops, said: "I feel sickened that someone has done this when we are trying to help people.

"It is bad enough to steal from a commercial organisation but to steal from a charity doing good for local people is appalling.

"They got in through the hole and trashed the entire shop. They had been everywhere - upstairs, downstairs, in the storage rooms, ripped drawers out.

"It is heartbreaking to walk around the shop and see the destruction which has been caused.

"And all the more so when we have local people raising money for us so we can help families who are struggling.

"Their loved ones may need our services one day."

Other stolen items included a PlayStation and electrical equipment, clothing and dress jewellery.

The shop manager and staff members, many of whom are volunteers, discovered the scene when they arrived at 8.30am.

Greater Manchester Police attended the charity shop just after 8.50am yesterday to carry out investigations.

Mrs Pearson added: "The thieves pulled drawers out of tables and desks and tipped them out all over the floor.

"They have used an appliance to break into a metal locker.

"It is devastation.

"I feel like we have been violated."

Thieves had gained access despite the shop front having reinforced glass.

Concerns were raised over what preventative measures should be taken to protect the hospice's shops.

Mrs Pearson said: "Realistically we have got to start thinking about whether we need to spend thousands of pounds on roller shutters to protect our shops.

"If it costs £10,000 to put them on, that is £10,000 we are not spending directly on patient care which is really upsetting.

"Thankfully this is the exception rather than the rule because we are so extremely well supported by the people of Oldham."

The Chadderton hospice shop is one of five charity shops across Oldham which provide vital income for Dr Kershaw's Hospice.

The registered charity, which provides palliative care for adults with life-limiting illnesses, has to raise around £2m a year through donations alone.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting reference 414 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.