ianstone
08-19-2010, 04:43 PM
Burglars target Leeds charities
[/URL]
http://editorial.jpress.co.uk/web/Upload/LEED//TH1_198201056nle4-1908-01-1808-144333.jpg
RAIDED: Jane Kent in the Alwoodley shop.
Published Date: 19 August 2010
Burglars described as "the lowest of the low" are targeting charities and community groups in Leeds, the YEP can reveal.
The St Gemma's Hospice shop in Alwoodley has been raided twice in the past three weeks, while the charity also lost an estimated £7,000 last year through thieves stealing "doorstep donations" left outside houses.
[URL="http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/custompages/CustomPage.aspx?pageID=73960"]* Click here to sign up to free news and sport email alerts from your YEP. (http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/Register.aspx?ReturnURL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.yorkshire eveningpost.co.uk%2ftemplate%2fViewArticle.aspx%3f SectionID%3d39%26ArticleID%3d6483012)
Community centre NorthCall, on Cranmer Bank in Moor Allerton, has also been targeted, with a safe, a laptop, a camcorder, a Nintendo Wii and three cameras stolen during two break-ins on June 15 and July 22.
* Click here to follow the YEP on Twitter. (http://www.twitter.com/leedsnews)
Tracy Dick, head of fundraising at St Gemma's, said: "It really is the lowest of the low and it felt so malicious. I just can't believe that people would steal from a charity like St Gemma's, which is looking after people at the end of their lives."
Burglars stole cash when the St Gemma's shop on King Lane was raided for the first time on July 27.
After the break-in, the hospice changed its policy so that no money was left in any of the 19 charity shops overnight, thwarting burglars who attempted another night-time raid on Monday.
But a brick was thrown through the window, damaging stock and forcing the closure of the shop on Tuesday.
At NorthCall, a group of mums are now planning a sponsored walk to help replace the items stolen in the two burglaries.
In the first raid, the safe was stolen, and during the second burglary, a new bolted safe was ransacked, including £200 intended for a day trip for elderly residents. Windows were smashed during both raids, at huge expense to the group.
Sue Ryder Care Wheatfields Hospice in Headingley regularly has lead stolen from its roof, and shoplifters often target the hospice's twice-weekly sales. During one event, a thief even sneaked into the staff block and stole a volunteer's handbag.
Inspector Andrew Briggs said: "Targeting charity shops and community organisations is despicable and at the present time we are making good progress with investigations into the incidents at both organisations.
"We were able to extract forensic evidence from both sites and this is currently undergoing analysis.
"Further crime prevention work including increased patrols and the recent installation of a CCTV camera system at the shopping parade on Cranmer Bank is ongoing between ourselves, Leeds City Council and East North East Homes."
* Anyone with information about any of the crimes should call 0845 606 0606.
[/URL]
http://editorial.jpress.co.uk/web/Upload/LEED//TH1_198201056nle4-1908-01-1808-144333.jpg
RAIDED: Jane Kent in the Alwoodley shop.
Published Date: 19 August 2010
Burglars described as "the lowest of the low" are targeting charities and community groups in Leeds, the YEP can reveal.
The St Gemma's Hospice shop in Alwoodley has been raided twice in the past three weeks, while the charity also lost an estimated £7,000 last year through thieves stealing "doorstep donations" left outside houses.
[URL="http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/custompages/CustomPage.aspx?pageID=73960"]* Click here to sign up to free news and sport email alerts from your YEP. (http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/Register.aspx?ReturnURL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.yorkshire eveningpost.co.uk%2ftemplate%2fViewArticle.aspx%3f SectionID%3d39%26ArticleID%3d6483012)
Community centre NorthCall, on Cranmer Bank in Moor Allerton, has also been targeted, with a safe, a laptop, a camcorder, a Nintendo Wii and three cameras stolen during two break-ins on June 15 and July 22.
* Click here to follow the YEP on Twitter. (http://www.twitter.com/leedsnews)
Tracy Dick, head of fundraising at St Gemma's, said: "It really is the lowest of the low and it felt so malicious. I just can't believe that people would steal from a charity like St Gemma's, which is looking after people at the end of their lives."
Burglars stole cash when the St Gemma's shop on King Lane was raided for the first time on July 27.
After the break-in, the hospice changed its policy so that no money was left in any of the 19 charity shops overnight, thwarting burglars who attempted another night-time raid on Monday.
But a brick was thrown through the window, damaging stock and forcing the closure of the shop on Tuesday.
At NorthCall, a group of mums are now planning a sponsored walk to help replace the items stolen in the two burglaries.
In the first raid, the safe was stolen, and during the second burglary, a new bolted safe was ransacked, including £200 intended for a day trip for elderly residents. Windows were smashed during both raids, at huge expense to the group.
Sue Ryder Care Wheatfields Hospice in Headingley regularly has lead stolen from its roof, and shoplifters often target the hospice's twice-weekly sales. During one event, a thief even sneaked into the staff block and stole a volunteer's handbag.
Inspector Andrew Briggs said: "Targeting charity shops and community organisations is despicable and at the present time we are making good progress with investigations into the incidents at both organisations.
"We were able to extract forensic evidence from both sites and this is currently undergoing analysis.
"Further crime prevention work including increased patrols and the recent installation of a CCTV camera system at the shopping parade on Cranmer Bank is ongoing between ourselves, Leeds City Council and East North East Homes."
* Anyone with information about any of the crimes should call 0845 606 0606.