A CHARITY shop was broken into and money snatched from the till and collection pot following a spate of break-ins across Harwich. 

Tony Elliston, chair of the Harwich Ukraine Support project, said a neighbour called the police after hearing glass being smashed and the alarm sounding on the charity shop on the High Street. 

Tony said: “Within five minutes, the police were on site - they probably heard the alarms.

“There is damage to a side window and the till was stolen containing £30, as well a collection box with an unknown amount inside”.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Boarded - The Harwich Ukraine Support Projects' shop on the High Street is now boarded up as forensic examination takes placeBoarded - The Harwich Ukraine Support Projects' shop on the High Street is now boarded up as forensic examination takes place (Image: Submitted)

It comes after last week, The Alma Inn, in King’s Head Street, fell victim to a break-in with thieves taking about £300 of donations intended to go to the charity Homestart Harwich - which offers services to families with children under the age of 11.  

Alma Inn owner Nick May said he was very disappointed crooks would target anyone "in such a small town where everyone knows each other".

An irreplaceable glass door window, estimated to date from the 1880s, was also shattered.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Irreplaceable - Irreplaceable glass from about the 1880s was destroyed because of the break-in last week at The Alma InnIrreplaceable - Irreplaceable glass from about the 1880s was destroyed because of the break-in last week at The Alma Inn (Image: Submitted)

Debbie Lear, a shop volunteer and employee of the Harwich Cultural and Community Projects, said she was called out at midnight and arrived to see the police, who said the incident happened about five minutes earlier.  

Debbie said the shop was broken into 18 months ago in "an almost identical way, adding: "It is gutting, it is not the monetary value because there is the very small float in the till.

"It’s the disruption afterwards, we have to wait for the glass to be cleared, wait for forensics, and now we have to source a till."

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Community - The charity shop helps provide aid to people in UkraineCommunity - The charity shop helps provide aid to people in Ukraine (Image: Submitted)

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We were called to Harwich High Street shortly after midnight on May 29 following reports of a burglary to a business.”

“Suspects shattered the window before stealing the till.

The spokesman added: “Enquiries remain ongoing and no arrests have been made at this stage”. 

“Crime scene investigators have been at the shop today to carry out forensic enquiries.”

Anyone with information about either break-in should contact Essex Police on 101 or at essex.police.uk, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.