Burglary at People in Need charity warehouse, Chip Lane, Taunton

Around £700 has been taken from the People In Need South West warehouse in Chip Lane, Taunton, as well as a number of sets of car keys.

The burglary is said to have happened at around lunchtime on Saturday, July 29.

Nick Magnum, from People In Need South West, said: “They took around £700 from a cash box in the back while we were serving customers.

“The money was being saved to buy disabled equipment from another charity elsewhere in the country as we’ve had a demand for that type of equipment here.

“Nicking from a charity is the lowest of the low and we want whoever responsible to get caught.”

Mr Magnum says that a number of keys were taken for different cars and vans used by the charity.

He estimated that replacing the keys will cost the charity around £1,500.

He added: “By the time we’ve paid the locksmith and changed all the locks it’s going to cost us a lot more than the actual money that they stole.

“Someone saw the envelope with the money in and took advantage of us.

“It really knocks your trust.”

The charity aims to help people make the transition from rehab to working life by teaching them transferable skills.

The warehouse stores donations for the shop that is open in East Reach.

It holds furniture and a variety of other goods, many of them donated.

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that the burglary had taken place at 2.15pm on Saturday.

A spokesman said: “We were called to the People in Need Warehouse after reports of a burglary.

“We can confirm an amount of money was stolen as well as a number of car keys, but no vehicles were stolen.”

An online donation page has been set up by one of the charity trustees in the hope of raising some funds to replace the stolen money.

And a cash reward has been offered by the charity to anyone who has information which leads to a conviction.

The police ask anyone who may have seen anything to call 101 quoting reference number 5217 173 205, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.