‘Rotten’ Thief steals donations given to city farm
ATHIEF stole charity donations from Windmill Hill City Farm in Bedminster – leaving staff feeling “sick”.
The farm, which is a registered charity, was broken into on Sunday, October 3, at about 3am.
The intruder stole money from a sheep-shaped collection box, which is one of several that people use to donate to the popular community hub in south Bristol.
The thief was nowhere to be seen when police arrived.
Simone Dougall, marketing manager at the farm, said the incident was “rotten”.
“It made all of us feel sick,” she said. “We are quite used to things going missing but this is really rotten.”
Simone says that there are several donation boxes at the farm, but that one was a particular favourite for small children, and they often put their pocket money in there.
She added that the donations from the public are vital to keep the farm free, so staff were shocked that the thief targeted them.
“We are thinking: why? Why go to all that trouble for a small amount of money and cause all that damage?
“Why would you hit a charity that’s free for everyone to come into?” she asked.
The donation boxes are regularly emptied so there wasn’t much money in there, but the electric doors which
lead into the building had to be repaired after the thief wedged them open.
And while things have been stolen from the farm before, the site isn’t normally broken into.
But the farm has received lots of donations from the public to help the charity recover its losses.
You can donate to the farm by visiting www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk/ support-us/donations/
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset police said: “Police were called to Windmill Hill City Farm, south Bristol, at 3.38am on Sunday 3 October.
“Security staff responded to an alarm activation at 3.21am and called 999 after finding the office door had been forced.
“Officers attended and discovered a sheep-shaped charity collection box had been forced and cash stolen. There was no sign of the thief.
“Crime scene investigators have carried out a forensic examination and enquiries, including a review of CCTV, continue.
“Windmill Hill City Farm is a hub for the community in south Bristol and the services it offers depend on fundraising.
“If you have information about who is responsible for this theft, please call 101 and give the reference 5221230286.
“Alternatively call the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111. They never tell the police who you are, just what you know.”