Thieves have targeted a charity shop in Suffolk twice in the space of two weeks.
The Barnado’s store in the Neighbourhood Centre in the Ravenswood area of Ipswich was broken into in the early hours of Saturday morning.
After smashing the glass door at the front of the shop, thieves broke the combination lock to the back of the shop and got away with an empty safe and a quantity of foreign currency.
The shop was also targeted on October 8, when thieves made their way in the back door and forced open a safe, stealing around £500 in the process.
Shop manager Marian Allaton said: “It makes me feel sick. We work so hard here.”
Staff member Anthony Bigg found the damage when he opened up the shop on Saturday morning. He said: “I came in and the door into the back of the shop was open and music was on. I then noticed the glass and called the police.
“I feel like it’s a losing battle. We’re trying to do our best and they’re trying to ruin it.”
Mrs Allaton, who has been manager of the shop for five years, has three paid members of staff working with her, alongside a team of volunteers.
“We’re a little family that work in here to make money for the charity,” she added.
“We want every penny to go to charity. That’s not going to happen now as it’s going to go on repairs and a new safe.
“I don’t know how people can steal from a charity, a children’s one at that.
“It’s money that’s now not going to charity.”
Call 101 with information.
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