Thief takes charity cash

CUSTOMERS of a Shaw pub have been left outraged after a thief stole a charity box containing up to £250.

He sneaked into the Queen Anne Inn, Church Road, to snatch the box stuffed full of cash, which would have gone to Dr Kershaw’s Hospice and the Royal Oldham Hospital’s special baby care unit.

The thief struck on Bank Holiday Monday, August 25, at 10.26am, climbing over a locked gate into the beer garden and then through an emergency door.

The break-in was captured on CCTV, which police are now studying.

Landlord Mark Priest said: “It annoys me that someone would go that low to steal from charity.”

The box is filled with donations from customers and topped up with unclaimed winnings from competitions, with Mr Priest having recently put in notes raised from an FA Cup draw.

The thief is described as in his early 30s, around 6ft 1in tall, of slim build and wearing dark clothing and a cap with the letters DC on.

Dr Kershaw’s appeals manager Brian Hurst said: “ What kind of person goes around taking charity boxes?”