‘Heartbreak’ as village charity shop is burgled
A CHARITY shop supporting children with life-limiting conditions has been broken into, losing it well over £1,000.
The Rainbows hospice shop in Forge Corner, Blaby, had hundreds of pounds in cash stolen out of the safe, and the property was damaged.
The break-in, on Sunday night, also meant the store remained shut throughout Monday, costing it a day’s takings, as well as potential donations.
It was one of four break-ins in central Blaby over the weekend. The other victims were a hardware shop, a hair salon and another, unnamed, charity shop.
Karen Bilsby, Rainbows’ head of retail, said she was left heartbroken by the crime.
She said: “Because of money that was stolen from the safe, and the damage that was caused, we have lost over £1,000.
“On top of that, we were also unable to open on Monday, so lost a day’s trading.
“For this to happen to a children’s hospice, three weeks before Christmas, just breaks my heart.”
The hospice, in Loughborough, cares for children and young adults with serious conditions and also helps to support their families through very difficult times.
Karen said: “All money raised at the Rainbows shop directly helps fund care for more than 300 children with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses from across the East Midlands.
“After this incident, we hope people will come along and support us by picking up some Christmas bargains. The money spent here, and the donations brought in, really do make a huge difference to the children and families supported by Rainbows.
“I would also like to say thank you to all of our customers, donors and the Blaby community for being so understanding when our doors were closed.”
A police spokeswoman said: “Officers received four reports relating to burglaries at commercial properties in Blaby at the weekend.
“Incidents have occurred at two charity shops in Leicester Road and St John’s Court, a hardware shop in Lutterworth Road and a hair salon in Enderby Road.
“All the incidents have occurred after closing on either Friday or Saturday up to opening time on Monday.
“Cash has been taken in the majority of incidents and a tablet computer in one incident.
“Inquiries are ongoing into the incidents.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Leicestershire Police on 101.
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