Homeless charity suffers shop blow and break-in
A homeless charity has been dealt a devastating double blow in the run up to Christmas. First Making a Difference to Maidstone was told it could not move complete an “epic” move to Week Street.
Then callous burglars broke into the charity, taking laptops and phones.
Amanda Sidwell, the Christian charity’s founder, said: “There’s no honesty or integrity any more.
“We were due to move into the old Mothercare site on January 1, we had handed in our notice to leave The Mall and then on December 3 we receive a flippant email saying the landlord had changed his mind.
“We had guys coming from the prison to help us pack things up for the move. This was going to be epic for us.”
Ms Sidwell said the charity had been given a nine month lease offer that “we could not turn down”.
But with the now empty store filled with festive goods, it seems the landlord has made a U-Turn. With the Church Street charity still reeling from the news, it was dealt another blow last week when its main store and office was broken into overnight on Monday of last week. Thieves took two laptops and two mobile phones from inside Ms Sidwell’s office and left a trail of glass and blood in their wake.
Ms Sidwell added: “I just pray next year we catch a break. “It’s petty thievery but it could have been a lot worse. If they had got into the shop they could have caused all sorts of damage. “I think it was just for drug money. I don’t know if a client has come in and seen some of what is left out or if it is someone taking a chance by randomly targetting us.
“Forensics have come and taken samples of the blood so hopefully they catch whoever is behind this.
“What is quite interesting is, there’s plate with Jesus on in front of the window. It has stayed upright but the burglars would definitely have had to climb over it to get in.”
A Kent Police spokesman said: “We were called to a shop in Church Street, Maidstone at 8.40am on the morning of Tuesday, December 17.
“Anyone with any information is asked to call Kent Police on 01622 604100 and quote reference number 46/239850/19.
“Or contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org.”