A charity shop in Burnham has been left clearing up the mess of a mindless thug who broke into their donation bins.

RSPCA Charity shop in the High Street, which serves South Buckinghamshire residents, was targeted just after 6pm on Monday, April 8. 

CCTV footage managed to catch a "single guy on a bike" breaking the doors to the rag store, taking the bin bags out and rummaging through the bags.

The incident is being investigated by Thames Valley Police.

Bucks Free Press:

Shop manager Jacqui Leishman said: "We're absolutely devastated because we're just a little shop and and the community love it and even on the Facebook page they're all in uproar, robbing a charity. 

"It's ridiculous for a charity. It took two hours to clear up, as if we don't have enough to do already in the day.

"I'd be lying if I said I knew why he did this. He didn't look like he was desperate, he was clean, well groomed, he wasn't a scruffy bugger, he didn't look like that." 

Bucks Free Press:

The vandalism of the charity shop has left people feeling shaken, and that more needs to be done to protect businesses on the High Street.

On Tuesday, April 2, a Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour Forum was held in Burnham here local MP Joy Morrissey and Superintendent Emma Burroughs from Thames Valley Police discussed how to tackle crime in the area.

"The funny thing is, the week before they held a meeting at Burnham Park Hall with Joy Morrissey and police there, talking all about the shoplifting in the area and anti social behaviour so it is the irony of it," Mrs Leishman said.

"They're promising to look at Burnham more closely with crime but there's more important places like Slough.

"Police have been in touch and are reviewing the CCTV footage but there's nothing that could be done.

"They're talking about having more police presence or more lighting - all these things would be helpful but would it help behind the back of the shop? Probably not." 

Jacqui started volunteering at the store after retiring and then took on the position as manager.

The store often gets bags of donated "stained or smelly" clothes, which gets recycled as rags for cash.

This week, the charity shop lost between £60 to £100 in cash due to bags being ripped up and clothes getting wet.

The money from these donated rags helps towards the rehoming of animals in South Buckinghamshire, and helps local families with their neutering costs  or fosterers pay for pet food. 

Jacqui said: "All the money we raise in Burnham stays in south Bucks, we use it for a local people.

"I think thats why people are upset about it."

"If anyone can help us in anyway they can make a cash donation, the people of Burnham are really generous."