Heartbreak for charity store after cruel theft (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Heartbreak for charity store after cruel theft

7:40am Thursday 12th April 2012 in Bewdley By Cadisha Brown

STAFF at a Bewdley charity shop have been left devastated after a “cruel” shoplifter stole a clarinet from the store.

The brazen thief is believed to have taken the musical instrument, worth £100, from the Sue Ryder Care shop in Load Street, while workers were busy serving other customers.

The store sells items – 99 per cent of which are donated – to make money for the charity.

Assistant manager Jacqui Symonds said they would not be able to make the money back.

The charity helps patients with life-changing illnesses and their carers.

Mrs Symonds added: “It’s a loss for us. We’re trying to make money for a charity and it’s devastating. We’re really, really upset by it.

“It’s heartbreaking. We feel so disappointed that somebody walked into a charity shop and took something.”

She said the clarinet, which was not in its case, was one of the store’s new stock items that had been placed “high up” on a shelf, adding it had been taken some time between Tuesday or Wednesday last week. She said shoplifting was a problem across all charity shops.

“I think people who target charity shops are cruel,” Mrs Symonds added.

“It’s bad enough going into any shop and stealing but to take things from a charity shop where things are donated to us is cruel.

“Donations are low and everyone will find that charity shops are struggling to make money for their charity. It’s not as if we charge a fortune for our donations.”

A spokesman for West Mercia Police confirmed officers were investigating the theft.