Thieves use THIS plaque to smash into veterans’ centre
BURGLARS used a remembrance stone to smash their way into a veterans’ charity centre and steal around £1,000 in cash.
The alarm triggered at Veterans in Communities Centre, in Bury Road, Haslingden, at 5.40am on Friday, November 17 and a member of staff was on site six minutes later, but the burglars had already fled.
Sickeningly, charity bosses say the raiders picked up a memorial stone inscribed with ‘Lest We Forget’ and smashed a frosted glass panel next to the rear door triggering the alarm.
Once inside, the pair kicked their way into the office and stole money from locked cash boxes in locked filing cabinets.
Charity tins containing money raised from selling craft items made by veterans along with donation boxes were also taken; fortunately Poppy Appeal money had already been handed over to The Royal British Legion.
Disgusted chief executive Liz Hamilton said: “They stole all the cash they could find. A lot had been paid as deposits by veterans for our Christmas meal next month and this is money that many members will not be able to afford to pay again.
“There was utter disbelief in the centre and everyone is shocked and disgusted at what has happened.
“If anyone has any information about the burglary or if they come across the empty cash boxes, please can they contact the police.”
The charity said CCTV has been passed to the police.
Lancashire Police said they were called at about 5.50am on Friday, November 17.
A spokesperson said: “The alarm had gone off and we went to check what was going on. We found that the place had been ransacked and all the charity boxes had been taken. Enquiries are ongoing.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting reference number 20171117-0160.