INFORMATION is being sought after a ‘despicable act’ occurred at the Age Concern charity shop in Bude recently.

The Post reported previously that the Age Concern shop had been a victim during a series of burglaries that occurred on Belle Vue Road and Queen Street in September. However, it seems Age Concern was victim to yet another theft crime on Monday, January 23.

Chairman of the Bude branch, Tony Harper, got in touch with the Post to encourage members of the public to come forward with any information, to prevent burglaries from happening again.

It is thought that on the evening of January 23, burglars entered the premises by breaking the lock on the door. They then proceeded to remove the shop’s safe from the wall, which is kept in an office used for storage, and empty a plastic bag of shop goods to bag up the safe to take away with them.

Mr Harper believes the burglars may have known their way around the shop to find the safe, which included £50 in cash and a set of keys to the shop, which the charity have since had to replace.

Mr Harper, who labelled the incident as a ‘despicable act, told the Post: “Age Concern is a charity shop, and we will no longer have a safe or keep money overnight on the premises.”

The incident has been reported to the police. Mr Harper added: “If anyone knows where the safe may have been dumped or left, it might be of interest for people to let the police know.”

Although CCTV is set up in the area, unfortunately the camera located at the Age Concern shop was out of order during the night of the burglary, and was therefore unable to identify any persons entering and leaving the premises.

The Post was informed that the British Red Cross shop in Bude was also burgled, which was thought to have happened on the evening of Tuesday, January 24 into the morning of Wednesday, January 25. The safe was forced and in the region of £500 was stolen.

Any witnesses or anyone with information should contact police on 101, email [email protected] or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.