HEARTLESS thieves left volunteers at a charity shop in Taunton 'upset' after they trashed their back yard and stole clothes and kitchen items.

Staff at Ferne Animal Sanctuary in Crown Walk turned up for work last week to find debris and shop items strewn across a fenced area behind the shop.

Police say thieves damaged a wooden gate and stole three bags of clothes, bric-a-brac and kitchen goods from the back yard between 5.30pm on Saturday, September 28, and 7.45am on Monday, September 30.

Shop manager Shayne Richards said the theft was upsetting for the volunteers and also the people who donated the items.

He said: “People have given it out of the goodness of their own hearts to raise money for equipment and food for the animals at the sanctuary.

“Theft is becoming quite common in all the charity shops in town, with us all becoming victim to it more and more.

“As times are getting harder people are starting to really feel the pinch and this not only reflects at the sanctuary where some people are reluctantly having to give up their much loved pets for rehoming but in the charity shops as well where people are looking to pick up their bargains at a fraction of the cost.”

Shayne said this was not the first time the shop has been targeted, adding that there had been 'several' occasions when their bin had been broken into and sifted through.

Jenny Wheadon, director of Ferne Animal Sanctuary, said: “We cannot understand why anyone would steal from a charity shop.

Somerset County Gazette: Taunton charity shop 'upset' by theft

“We are extremely grateful to the people in Taunton who have supported the shop in any way, either as a customer or by donating items to sell.

“All proceeds from the shop help us to continue our work in providing refuge for unwanted animals at Ferne Animal Sanctuary.”

The charity has three shops in Taunton, Chard, and Bridport, which provide valuable income to support the work of the Sanctuary in providing refuge for vulnerable, unwanted animals.

Any witnesses should call 101.