Thieves smash windows to raid charity shop
THIEVES smashed through the windows of a charity shop in Leicester before turning the place upside down and making off with a number of items.
Cash, jewellery and more were taken from the Age UK bookshop in Clarendon Park, Leicester.
Staff arrived at work on Friday morning to find the shop, in Queens Road, had been broken into overnight. It meant the shop was forced to close and miss out on crucial trading time.
Tony Donovan, executive director of Age UK Leicestershire and Rutland, said the break-in was “the last thing” the charity needed after what has been a turbulent time for many charities.
He told the Mercury: “Life during Covid has been very busy for charities and it continues to be. We were losing around £100,000 a week.
“And now with the cost of living crisis, that’s impacted how people are spending money. The last thing we need is a break-in.”
The damage is expected to cost several thousand pounds to repair. The intruders ransacked the till area of the shop, going through a jewellery cabinet, the till itself, the fridge and more.
The manager of the branch, who did not want to be named, said: “One of the biggest things is the loss of trade and the other thing is the damage.”
A police spokesman said: “At 9.15am on Friday, August 5, a report was received that a shop in Queens Road, Clarendon Park, had been broken into. It was reported a front window had been smashed and cash, jewellery and other items had
been taken.” Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident 142 of 5 August. Anyone who wishes to help the charity can make a donation via: