Disbelief & Dismay - As thieves attack charity shop again!
18/11/2008 Volunteers and Staff at the RSPCA Coventry Branch were dismayed to wake up on Friday morning to find that there Allesley charity shop had been attacked once again only 7 weeks since the last break in.

The RSPCA shop on Winsford Avenue Allesley Park was broken into in the early hours of Friday morning. Area Manager Jackie Langbridge was astounded to be woken by a call so soon after the last break in. The thieves had thrown a large wooden sign through the glass window of the shop causing lots of damage and leaving a lot of mess and expense to clean up.

Fortunately the thieves made away with only a small amount of donated change but the damage they have caused is where we start counting the true cost. The charity shop had to be closed for the day losing vital takings to which directly support the Coventry Animal Centre.

Karen Besant Charity Shop Manager who runs the shop on Winsford Avenue says ‘it is absolutely heart breaking seeing the destruction and damage that can be caused by mindless thieves. They barely stood to gain more than a few pounds from the break in but they have left us with damage and losses totalling over a £1000.’

In order to protect the shop in future the branch is looking into buying steel shutters for the front of the shop. In a hope to deter the would be thieves unfortunately these are going to cost around £1500 to have fitted and this money will have to be taken from the shops profits which normally go towards the running of the animal centre.

Jackie Langbridge Area Manager says ‘It’s so disappointing that a massive chunk of the money raised to help the animals in Coventry has had been swallowed up repairing the damage caused by these mindless thieves. On top of that we now have to find £1500 to buy the shutters we need in order to stop this from happening again’

The animal centre would appreciate any help from members of the public in the purchasing of the new shutters; donations can be made by phone, at the animal centre or any of the charity shops.

The charity shops are crucial to the centres survival between them raising enough money to pay the centres vet bills each year. We urge everyone to continue to support the work of the charity shops and there vital role towards the future of the centre.

Jackie adds ‘We would like to express our sincere thanks to all the well wishers and support from the neighbouring business over the last few weeks. It does help us restore some faith in the human nature’

If anyone has any further information on the break in please call the charity shop on 024 76 677273 or Little Park Street Police Station.