HEARTLESS thieves have ransacked a charity shop's office the day before the chairman is due to retire.
The Grimsby & District Healthcare Charity shop in Freeman Street, Grimsby, was broken into between 5pm on Thursday evening and 7am yesterday morning.
A total of £802.45 was taken from the office after the thieves broke in through the backdoor.
As reported, the Grimsby & District Healthcare Charity is currently running the Grimsby Telegraph-backed Big Red Heart Appeal, which is raising money for life-saving equipment for a new cardiology unit at the Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital.
Chairman Ron Kitching said: "I had a quadruple heart bypass 21 years ago.
"When I came in and saw what had happened I felt pains in my arms and chest and I thought I was going to have an angina attack.
"It couldn't have happened on a worse day.
"It is the last day of the financial year for us and the day before I retire.
"I am both upset and angry about what has happened.
"All charities are struggling to make money and this will be a big hit for us.
"The people that did it knew what they were doing, because they came through the backdoor and straight into the office. They didn't go in the shop.
"They took the whole door and frame out and stole the entire safe.
"In total, a whole week's shop takings and collection box money was taken.
"It is cruel and heartless and all they have done is deprive North East Lincolnshire of life-saving equipment.
"We are going to have to buy a new safe now, which will cost a lot, and we really need the public to get behind us in our time of need."
Shop manager Kris Read said: "I came in at about 8.50am to open up.
"I unlocked the office and pushed the door but a chair was behind it, which is unusual. I gave it a shove and it opened and I saw everything was all over the floor and all the drawers had been emptied.
"We had our money in the safe which was bolted to a shelf but they took the whole thing.
"My heart was racing at the time but I called Ron and the police.
"The people that steal from charities are scum."
A spokesman for Humberside Police said: "Police are currently investigating a commercial burglary which took place at the Grimsby and District Charity shop in Freeman Street, Grimsby."
Charity founder to relax and take a back seat, see page two.
Can you help?
Anyone with information is asked to call Humberside Police on 101, quoting crime reference 1927423.
