16
Apr
Ripon charity shop left to foot £5,000 bill after break-in
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A charity shop in Ripon has been left with a huge bill after vandals struck and the store was burgled last night (April 14).
Saint Michael’s Hospice said on social media staff and volunteers arrived at the North Street branch yesterday (April 15) morning to find the shop front had been "vandalised" and the inside of the store “raided”.
The team expects the shop to be closed for at least two days to allow for essential repairs to be carried out.
The post added the cost of repair bills and loss of earnings from the closure of the store is expected to be at least £5,000.
“This figure equates to two days of nursing costs for the Saint Michael’s in-patient unit”, it adds.
Maria Corbin, who volunteers at the Ripon shop, said she was “absolutely appalled” by the incident.
Saint Michael’s Hospice cared for Maria’s late husband, Tony, before he died of cancer in August 2023.
Today’s post added Maria is determined to “help the Ripon shop to recoup vital costs” and has even pledged to put her own money towards additional security measures.
She said:
It's devastating that a shop that helps provide that care for families has been broken in to. When Tony died, we created a tribute page for him and raised £4,000 for Saint Michael’s and I will happily donate again to help the Ripon shop.
What people don’t understand is that care at the hospice is free at the point of need, and with inadequate government funding, it’s the generosity of the community and charity shops like Ripon that help provide vital income.
We haven't been able to take any money today because obviously the shop is shut. We can't open until the police have been either, so we've lost revenue today, and we need to make that revenue up one way or another.
A JustGiving page raising funds to cover the costs of repairs and loss of takings has since been set up.
St Michael’s Hospice’s social media post also added:
If people can kindly donate cash or items to the shop, then we won't have lost out. And if we don't lose out as a shop, then the people who need help in the community and at the hospice won’t lose out either. It’s so sad that this has happened. I can’t believe anyone would be so cruel as to target a charity shop.
Police update
The Stray Ferret contacted North Yorkshire Police for an update on April 16.
We asked if anyone had been arrested in connection to the incident.
A spokesperson said the investigation into the burglary, which happened between 5pm on April 14 and 9am on April 15, is ongoing.
The force urged anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam footage to call 101 and speak to the control room.
You can also pass on information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or make an online report.
Quote reference 12250066568 when passing on information.
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