Charity shop raided for a second time

MANAGER Brian Lever shows the back door where the thieves entered the Animal Rescue shop for a second time

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A CHARITY shop in Oldham town centre has been targeted by thieves twice in the space of just two weeks.

Animal Rescue Oldham has suffered several blows after thugs broke in and stole £50 float money, blank fundraiser badges and left staff fearful of another theft.

In the latest strike yobs are understood to have used a crowbar to smash their way in to the Yorkshire Street-based re-homing organisation.

Thieves ransacked the shop, stealing six blank Animal Rescue ID badges which are labelled "official fundraiser" and handfuls of DVDs.

Charity founder and chairman Rod Smith said: "Someone is targeting charity shops.

"On both occasions they broke in through the fire door at the back using a crowbar.

"In the latest break-in they were cheeky and removed the chicken wire outside by taking off the brackets so they could climb over the wall.

"There was no float money in the till so they have had a good root around.

"They have taken loads of DVDs. It must have been around £100 worth."

The shop will incur between £400 and £500 in costs including the stolen float, repairs to the fire door and tightening security including installing new cameras.

The Chronicle also reported how Nosh café, in Yorkshire Street, was targeted by criminals overnight on Thursday, July 13 when they stole a till and caused £500 worth of damage.

Shop manager Brian Lever, who has volunteered at Animal Rescue Oldham for 18 months, discovered their first break-in on Wednesday, July 19, when he arrived to open up at 10am.

Opportunists also broke into the charity shop overnight on Monday , emptying the contents of drawers, and going through DVDs, CDs and games.

Brian said: "We want to warn people they have taken six blank fundraiser badges. These people do not work at this charity. They have nothing to do with us.

"They have even snapped off the lock to get into our donation cupboard where we keep pet food."

He added: "This has affected the staff team. As soon as we arrive, we are looking to see if thieves have been in again and what damage has been caused. They will probably try again.

"Why would you do this to a small charity? All the money that is raised here goes to help the animals. These thefts affect them directly."

No arrests have been made at this time but police enquiries are ongoing.

A GMP spokeswoman said: "Police were called at 10.40am on Thursday, July 20, to reports of a burglary at a charity shop in Yorkshire Street.

"The offenders forced entry from the back door and stole money from the till before making off."