Allington Lane Nursery thieves take charity collection from Fair Oak business (From Daily Echo)

Allington Lane Nursery thieves take charity collection from Fair Oak business

9:37am Monday 23rd November 2009

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THIS is the hoodie-wearing thief looking straight into a CCTV camera after pocketing the contents of four charity tins during a raid on a Hampshire garden centre.

He is one of a trio caught on camera during their half-hour thieving spree.

Together they helped themselves to money donated to MacMillan Cancer Support, Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

They also emptied £60 from the coffee shop till, helped themselves to chocolates on display, stole a Hewlett Packard colour printer and pulled open drawers during the break-in.

It is the second time in two years that thieves have targeted Allington Nursery in Allington Lane, Fair Oak.

Owner Steve Goodridge said: “To take charity money you must have no conscience.

Doing such a thing would not cross most people’s minds.

“I can’t find words to describe these people. They are the lowest of the low.”

He said that he was particularly upset as many customers had donated their small change to good causes despite one of the worst recessions.

“Over the last months I have watched the young men coming back from Afghanistan in coffins on television after serving their country. They must be only 18, 19 and 20.

“And then at the other end of the scale you have scum like this.” Mr Goodridge estimates that in the region of £300 was stolen from the Macmillan Cancer Care and Great Ormond Street Hospital collection tins on the main counter of the garden centre, as well as two further charity boxes in the café for the RSPB.

On the last occasion when charity tins were stolen two years ago the two thieves turned themselves in after their crimes and faces were caught on CCTV and exposed by the Daily Echo.

They were each given 12-month community orders and ordered to pay £43 court costs and £20 compensation by Southampton magistrates.

A police spokesman said: “We appeal for anyone who was in the area who saw anyone acting suspiciously or any suspicious vehicles to get in contact with PC Martin.”

Anyone with information about the raid carried out on Wednesday between 6.50pm and 7.20pm should call him at Eastleigh Police on 101.

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