RSPCA charity shop ransacked by thieves

THE smashed front window at the RSPCA's Royton charity shop.

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THIEVES caused more than £2,000 worth of damage by forcing entry and ransacking the RSPCA's Royton charity shop.

The shop in Rochdale Road was targeted overnight when yobs broke the shutter and smashed through the plate glass window to gain access.

In addition to damage, offenders stole a large donation dog, which will cost £150 alone to replace, and stole around £50 that had been donated for the charity's efforts in helping neglected animals.

Operations Manager Denise McCabe said: "They did an incredible amount of damage which is going to cost over £2,000. They also stole our big donation dog.

"All of that money could have been used to help us provide veterinary treatment at our Oldham animal centre for a week.

"Why would you steal from a charity?"

It has cost the charity £150 to have the window boarded up and a further £800 to purchase and install a new pane of glass at the shop, near Royton Precinct.

The metal shutter will cost £1,200 to replace while a new donation dog from head office will cost the Oldham branch £150.

The Royton charity shop posted a photo of the missing donation dog on Facebook.

The charity is counting the cost after its only Oldham van was stolen from Huddersfield Road just three months ago, as reported by the Chronicle.

Denise added: "We had our van stolen and now we have had the charity shop broken into. It is just so upsetting to think that people volunteer their time and donate goods for us to sell, yet in an instant, people can come and do something like this.

"This money has to come off our charitable causes funding which is used to provide food and care for animals that have been rescued from neglect."

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, July 16.

A GMP spokeswoman said: "We were called shortly after 10pm on Sunday, July 16, to reports of a burglary at an RSPCA unit on Rochdale Road.

"There was damage caused to a window. Our enquiries are ongoing.

"Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting 827 of July 16, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."