Kentish Express Ashford & District
Manager’s sadness as thief breaks into charity shop
A charity shop manager has branded a thief “sad” after he smashed a glass door to steal donations.
Ian Jubb woke up at 7am on Saturday to the news that the RSPCA shop in Church Road, Willesborough, which he manages, had been broken in to.
The 36-year-old said an empty till was taken, along with cabinets of jewellery.
The shop raises money for the RSPCA’s Ashford Garden Cattery in Station Road, which has helped rehome thousands of cats and kittens since it opened in 2006.
Mr Jubb said: “It happened just after 5am. A member of the public reported it to the police after they saw the shop’s front door was smashed.
“The glass of the door was broken so they could get in and take what they wanted.
“They had smashed their way through and then climbed inside.”
Mr Jubb added while the suspect was stealing the till they left the plug behind, which means it could not be sold on and is now useless.
He said: “There is no money left in the shop overnight. The only thing I can think of is they must have thought there might be float money or something more in there.
“I just think that it is really sad that they are targeting shops, especially charity shops. Hopefully they will be found.
“A few of our volunteers have been in this morning to help clear up.”
To make people aware of what had happened Mr Jubb, posted a picture of the damaged door on social media.
He said: “The public have been really supportive. The money we make in the shop is used to run the cattery which we operate in Station Road, so incidents like this take away from the work we do there.”
Although there is no CCTV in the shop, police have released a description of a man they want to speak to.
He is white, 5ft 4in, slim built, and he was wearing a hooded top.
It is thought he rode away along Hythe Road on a small bicycle.
Anyone with information that can help should call police on 01843 222289 quoting reference ZY/784/17 or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.