Charity shop staff 'devastated' after £1,000 worth of damage caused during burglary...

Sense in Willenhall was targeted by thieves on Tuesday



A charity shop in Coventry was burgled on Tuesday (July 12). Vandals trashed Sense in Willenhall causing more than £1,000 worth of damage.

Sense raises money to support people with complex disabilities, including those who are deafblind. Staff were 'devastated' to learn the store had been targeted with the till and stock destroyed.

The store did not suffer any monetary loss as no cash is kept on the premises overnight. Staff are now appealing for members of the local community to donate money and items, or volunteer to support the shop.

Sharron Coles, Shop Manager, said: “The shop generates vital income that helps support families and people with complex disabilities and is also a hub for the local community – where people can drop by for a chat. The thought that someone could do this is devastating. We’ll get back on our feet though, and just want to thank everyone for their support to date.”

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “We were alerted at just after 7.15am on Tuesday (12 July) to a burglary at a shop in Remembrance Road, Coventry. Anyone with information can contact us via Live Chat on our website and quote log 735 of 12 July.”

To volunteer at the Sense shop in Willenhall, or give donations, call 024 7630 5718 or visit the shop at Unit 9, 90 Remembrance Road, Willenhall, Coventry, CV3 3DP.

Thieves smash through Coventry charity shop in second raid



A charity shop was left with a repair bill of more than £1,000 after heartless thieves smashed their way into the store leaving a trail of devastation behind. The break-in happened at the Sense shop in Willenhall on Friday, February 3.

Vandals forced their way through the front door with glass left strewn on the floor. Over £1,000 worth of damage was caused at the shop on Remembrance Road.

A number of electrical goods were damaged while the empty till was also stolen. An investigation has been launched by West Midlands Police.

It is not the first time the charity shop has been targeted by thieves. Sense was burgled in July last year with staff left devastated after the till and stock were destroyed.

Staff are now appealing to members of the local community to volunteer at the store or donate goods. Sense raises money to support people with complex disabilities, including those who are deafblind.

A spokesman for the company said on Facebook: “We are saddened to have had to walk in on this early this morning (Saturday, February 4). We want to thank everyone for their patience while we got the shop safe to reopen.

"We are saddened that someone would feel the need to break in yet again and stop us from being able to raise the funds we need to support people who are deafblind or have complex needs, but we want to give a big thank you to everyone who offered help and support.”

Simone Tiano, area manager for Sense, said: “The shop raises vital income that helps support families and people living with complex disabilities, but more than that, we consider ourselves a place for the community, where people can just stop by for a chat. That's what makes this break-in so difficult to take.

"We want to thank everyone for their well wishes and offers of support.”

Anyone who wishes to volunteer or donate goods can call 024 7630 5718 or visit the shop at Unit 9, 90 Remembrance Road, Willenhall, Coventry, CV3 3DP.

West Midlands Police has been approached for comment.

Deja-vu:

Heartless thieves smash door at Coventry charity shop



Staff at a charity shop in Coventry are 'deeply upset' after their store was burgled. Sense on Remembrance Road in Willenhall says the raid that occurred overnight between Wednesday, May 14, and Thursday, May 15 and has cost more than £1,500 in lost sales and repairs.

The store is now calling on the local community to help the store recover the costs after the front door was smashed, and the empty till and the back room were badly damaged. Staff discovered the overnight break-in just before 8am on May 15 and had to close for the day to clean up when police were in attendance.

The store helps raise funds for national disability charity Sense to support people living with complex disabilities, but the cost of repairs and lost trading has been a 'significant setback'. They say any stock donations, cash donations, or applying to become a shop volunteer would be 'hugely welcomed'.

Area Manager for Sense's shops, Simone Tiano, said: "The team are very upset and disappointed about the break-in at our Sense charity shop. It feels heartless to damage our store and force us to close for an entire day, and it’s costing our charity more than £1,500 to put it right.

"But almost nothing was stolen, we’ve cleaned up as quickly as possible and we’re now determined to fight back and make up all the losses we’ve suffered. We’d warmly welcome any help local people can give us, perhaps by making donations, by volunteering, or by coming in to do some shopping, say “hello” and cheer us up.

"Sense is a fantastic charity that supports people living with complex disabilities and we’re so proud of our Willenhall shop and the work we do here," she added.

A spokesperson from West Midlands Police said: "We're investigating after a burglary at a charity shop in Coventry. Money and other items were stolen at some point overnight on 14 into 15 May. No one has yet been arrested, and anyone with information has been asked to get in touch, quoting 20/479055/24."

Staff says anyone who can help can go into the shop or email willenhall@sense.org.uk or call 02476 305718.

B*st*rds!

As I've posted previously the city council spent millions on so-called 'regeneration' of the area without addressing the long-standing anti-social behaviour problem.

Likewise in Wood End.