The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Fury as charity shop ransacked by cruel raiders
Trail of destruction leaves Cancer Research volunteers heartbroken
THIEVES who ransacked a northeast charity shop, stealing donations and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake, have been branded the “lowest of the low” by devastated volunteers.
Peterhead’s Cancer Research UK branch was turned upside down on Saturday morning and remains closed for a deep clean before volunteers can pick up the pieces.
One member of the shop’s team said she was “disgusted and brokenhearted” to discover the destruction at the shop in Drummers Corner, which comes just a month after vandals damaged its shop front in the latest crime to hit the town centre.
The thieves broke down the back door before rifling through the till, store room and shop and clearing shelves of donated goods.
The exact cost of the raid is still being calculated.
A spokesman for the charity said it was hard for the north-east volunteers to comprehend “how anyone could stoop so low as to ransack the premises” while one local politician branded those responsible “despicable and cowardly”.
Police are investigating and have appealed for information.
Volunteers at a Peterhead charity shop have been left devastated after heartless thieves broke into the premises, pocketing donations and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
One long-serving volunteer said she was “disgusted and brokenhearted” to arrive at the Cancer Research UK shop in Drummers Corner to find it had been ransacked overnight, in the latest crime to hit the town centre.
At some point between lock-up time on Friday and the following morning thieves broke down the shop’s back door before going through the till, store room and shop, clearing shelves and leaving a trail of destruction behind.
It is not known how much damage has been caused, or the exact value of goods taken.
Once made secure, the shop was left, for coronavirus reasons, ahead of a clean and then picking up of the pieces.
One volunteer appealing for information on social media shared photographs showing bags of donations torn open and strewn across the store, lockers forced open and emptied and the till drawer lying open.
She added it was “souldestroying” and that those responsible may have had relatives lucky enough to benefit from the very work the shop supports.
Another volunteer described those responsible as the “lowest of the low” while their colleague suggested it was “disheartening” as it “wasn’t the first time” the shop had been targeted.
The break-in came just a month after the charity shop’s front was covered in graffiti and almost a year to the day since neighbouring shop Shoe Zone was hit by thieves.
More than £280,000 has been earmarked for the rejuvenation of Drummers Corner, which in time will see the installation of a new raised performance area and upgrades to seating and lighting.
Peter head councillor Dianne Beagrie said security cameras are included in that plan.
“I was really disappointed to hear about this incident,” she said.
“I have been in touch with staff and will be picking up on it.
“Hopefully they find out who was responsible.”
Cancer Research UK spokesman Martin McGlown said times were hard enough for the charity, with lockdown restrictions having cost the charity more than £ 160 million, forcing cuts to some of its research funding programmes.
He said: “It is deeply upsetting to learn of the break-in at our Peterhead shop and we hope those responsible will be swiftly identified and brought to justice.
“Cancer Research UK relies on the generous support of the public to continue its lifesaving work, including those who shop at our stores or donate quality pre-loved items.”
Police were alerted at about 8.30am on Saturday and officers have appealed for information. Inquiries are ongoing. North- east MSP Peter Chapman described the break-in as “sickening” and urged anyone with information to come forward.
“To target a Cancer Research charity shop in this way is absolutely despicable and cowardly,” he said.
“Charities have been hugely affected by the pandemic and it’s sickening to see this happen to the Peterhead branch.”
Police can be reached on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.