Burglars ransack Coventry's social supermarket
Posted: Wed May 06, 2020 3:37 pm
Thieves leave trail of 'utter mess' as they steal food parcels, tins of food and donations intended for struggling families
Burglars have ransacked Coventry's social supermarket overnight – stealing large food parcels intended for some of the city's most vulnerable people.
The thieves took essential supplies meant for families in the city struggling with hunger and poverty during the Covid-19 lockdown as well as donations that had been stored in a large cupboard at the lifeline service in Foleshill.
They also stole a safe and wifi router as they trashed shelves and a store cupboard in a hall used as a logistics hub before making their way into the supermarket itself.
Supplies of tea, coffee, sugar and tins of meat and fish, intended for customers on a cut-price basis, were also stolen by the raiders after they smashed their way into the former Foleshill Community Centre.
The theft of around 10 large food parcels, intended for families, and the donations from the storage cupboard have thrown the charity’s plans to distribute vital supplies into disarray.
Operations director Helen Needham discovered the trail of destruction after arriving at the building early this morning (Wednesday, May 6), having been alerted by the alarm.
Helen said: “It’s really callous. They broke into the building through the hall and took the food parcels and the donations from the cupboard before making their way into the social supermarket and taking coffee, tea, sugar and tins of meat and fish.
"They have pulled stuff off the wall and left the place in an utter mess. They took the safe and the wifi router, which means we are struggling to get in touch with our customers. They have done a real number on us.”
The burglars took door keys from the office as they searched for a way to open the safe, which contained a small amount of cash, before taking the entire box with them.
Police are investigating and carrying out enquiries in the area.
Despite the break-in, staff and volunteers are determined to continue their work at the social supermarket, which was launched by the Feeding Coventry charity on the Foleshill Road in March.
