Thieves strike hospice

Kathy McMillan says hundreds of dollars worth of donated items have been stolen. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Thieves stealing items left outside a Northland charity shop are reducing the amount of money going towards helping terminally-ill cancer patients.

Before North Haven Hospice staff get to work on Monday mornings in central Whangarei, hundreds of dollars has already disappeared.

Staff watching security camera footage have almost been reduced to tears watching thieves rifle through items.

Hospice is now urging people to drop off donations during business hours.

Fundraising committee manager Karen Sandoy said the sale of items helped hospice provide vital free services to the community.

"By stealing items people are compromising our operation and what we can give back to the community," Mrs Sandoy said.

She said 28 per cent of the North Haven Hospice operational income came from the items sold through the two charity shops based in Waipu and Whangarei.

Whangarei store retail manager Kathy McMillan said the donated goods were being left at the rear of the building near the storage shed. She urged people to drop goods in during the week or on Saturday, when the shop was open until 3.30pm.

A truck was also available to collect heavier items.

Whangarei/Kaipara Area Prevention Team Constable Sharayne Moir said clothing and furniture had disappeared.

"People come over the weekend and take what they want before the hospice even gets to see what donations they have had."

The hospice shop has good CCTV footage and thieves who have been snapped on camera have been warned for theft. "If we catch anyone again they will be charged with theft," Ms Moir said.