Cruel thieves carry out ‘senseless’ raid at Sutton Coldfield charity shop

A callous thief or thieves have broken into the St Giles Hospice shop in Mere Green Road, Sutton Coldfield, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage

Heartless burglars have broken into a Sutton Coldfield charity shop which raises money for the good cause which looks after people who are dying. The thief or thieves broke into the St Giles Hospice shop in Mere Green Road last weekend causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

The break-in took place overnight on Friday, September 13 into Saturday, September 14, with raiders forcing their way in through a back door, ripping alarm sensors off the wall and ‘trashing’ the shop’s office. A member of staff discovered the ‘devastating’ scene on Saturday morning.

The cash-strapped charity which provides ‘end of life care’ had announced in August it was facing financial difficulties, and was planning ‘significant redundances across our workforce’ as it looks to save £1.5 million a year in costs. And the shop break-in ‘could not have come at a worse time’, as St Giles is already facing a ‘significant funding crisis’, with the burglary causing ‘£5,000-worth of damage’.

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The Sutton break-in at the Mere Green shop is the third such raid at one of St Giles’ shops in less than a year. The charity saw its Bloxwich shop broken into in February and its Kingstanding store broken into in December. Thugs also mindlessly damaged Wild In Art elephants in the summer, which are set to be auctioned off to raise money for St Giles.

Elinor Eustace, interim Chief Executive of St Giles Hospice, said: "This break-in couldn't have come at a worse time for St Giles. We're currently facing a £1.5 million annual deficit, with NHS funding covering less than 18 per cent of our costs.

“Every penny raised in our shops is crucial for maintaining our services. This senseless act of destruction directly impacts our ability to care for those living with terminal illnesses in our community.

“It's not just about the monetary loss. It's about the patients and loved ones who rely on the care these funds provide."

Robert Evans, head of retail for St Giles Hospice, added: “We're absolutely devastated. Every item sold in our shops contributes towards the vital care St Giles Hospice provides.

“Last year, our shops raised over £500,000. Without the relentless hard work of our retail team and the generosity of our donors and customers, we simply would be unable to continue our vital work."

The Mere Green shop closed briefly for investigation but reopened on Saturday afternoon. St Giles Hospice urges anyone with information about the break-in to contact West Midlands Police on 101 quoting crime reference number 20/842303/24. West Midlands Police has been approached for a statement.

Anyone wanting to find out more about St Giles shops or to support the hospice during this ‘challenging time’, is urged to visit: www.stgileshospice.com/shops