Thieves steal hundreds of pounds from Newark charity shop

The theft of £500 from a charity shop just days before Christmas has been branded “sickening”.

Money was taken from the Beaumond House Community Hospice shop, on Stodman Street, Newark, between 2pm and 2.30pm on Wednesday.

It is believed that volunteers in the shop were distracted by one person while another stole the cash. No one was hurt in the incident.

The theft happened less than a month after the charity revealed it was facing an estimated deficit of £166,000 by March 2018 – the end of the financial year - and urged the public and businesses to give more.

At the time, fundraising and marketing manager Cathy Lowe said Beaumond House was grateful for the support it received but would not survive without more.

She said even donating a sum equivalent to the cost of a cup of coffee would help.

The hospice provides palliative care to patients with life limiting or terminal illnesses and their families.

Speaking following the theft, Cathy stressed that money made at the shop was used for vital services offered by the hospice.

“We work so hard to raise money and put it into patient care,” she said.

“To have that taken away from us after people have donated and bought things in good faith is sickening.

“They have stolen from a charity where it’s not about profit, but about helping people.

'People are working very hard to give to us'

“A lot of people made a lot of effort raising £500 for us — it’s more than the average person takes home in a week.

“£500 is the equivalent to more than seven day hospice sessions, or 14 hours of Hospice At Home care.

“That’s the reality of the impact of taking that money.”

During day hospice sessions, people can take part in therapeutic activities, and mindfulness.

The Hospice At Home care is offered to both patients and their carers.

Beaumond House staff provide support for those who are finding the caring experience difficult or help in circumstances, for example, where the patient cannot get out of bed.

“People are working very hard to give to us and this show that it can be easily snatched away,” said Cathy.

“£500 is a lot of money to us. Somebody is now going to have to work doubly hard to make that amount again.”

Beaumond House also operates a shop in Queen Street, Southwell.

Anyone with information should call Nottinghamshire Police on 101. Beaumond House can be contacted on 01636 610556.