Thief steals money from Children’s Adventure Farm Trust charity shop (From Knutsford Guardian)

11:50am Sunday 5th July 2009

A THIEF stole money from a charity shop that helps children who are disabled, ill or poverty stricken.

The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust said its volunteers were devastated that the money had been taken.

“There’s quite a bit of disappointment and disbelief here,” said Helen Crowther, senior trust fundraiser.

“You can’t believe that people would do such a thing. How do they sleep at night?”

Thieves went into the shop in Canute Square when it was busy.

They noticed money that had been taken out of a till and sorted in preparation for banking.

Minutes later staff, who had been busy serving customers, realised the cash had been taken.

“You just can’t believe that someone would take that money,” said Miss Crowther.

Last week the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust declined to say how much money the thief had stolen.

But Miss Crowther said the cash would be missed by the charity, which has a base in Millington near High Legh.

“It’s money that our volunteers have worked hard to collect,” she said.

“That money is not coming to the farm now.”

The trust shop has now taken steps to ensure criminals are unable to target its takings.

It installed a safe for money being transferred from the charity store.

Staff have also increased the number of times they take money to the bank, to reduce the amount of cash kept on site.

“It won’t happen again because of improvements in security,” said Miss Crowther.

“People will also keep more of an eye on things now, unfortunately.

“It’s wrong really that we have to be suspicious of people coming into a charity shop.”

The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust has been helping youngsters since 1985.

Each year the charity provides holidays and day trips for more than 3,000 disabled, ill and disadvantaged children.

Groups of youngsters aged between four and 14 – and their carers – visit the converted farmhouse in Millington for free week-long breaks.

If you can help the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust call 01565 830053 or visit childrensadventurefarm.org.

News RSS Feed