Shock and disappointment as charity shop robbed in Yate
People have been sharing their disgust online after a Great Western Air Ambulance Charity shop was broken into
People have been sharing their disgust online after a charity shop was robbed in South Gloucestershire.
A store for the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) was broken into in Yate over the bank holiday weekend and cash was taken from their collection globe.
The charity has released a statement on what happened saying they are "disappointed" and "shocked", adding the money taken was meant to help people across the west country suffering a life-threatening illness or injury.
Marwa Bahssali is the shop manager in Yate.
"Someone had gained entrance through the front door and then located our huge collection globe towards the back of the shop," she said.
"They smashed it open and managed to grab most of the banknotes, before making off.”
It's thought between £70-£100 was taken, while the charity believes it could have been taken by someone who had been in the shop before, because the collection globe cannot be seen from the outside.
"People have had the kindness to donate money that they would have worked hard for, to help save the lives of people in Yate and beyond," Marwa Bahssali said.
"It’s the sadness that someone has made so much effort to break in to our wonderful shop and take that cash for themselves that disappoints us so much.”
GWAAC provides emergency care to people across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, North Somerset and parts of Wiltshire.
Though they form part of the regional 999 response service and work closely with NHS hospitals, GWAAC are a charity entirely funded by local people.
The shop in Yate Shopping Centre has been open less than ten months.
“I am asking anyone who knows anything about this incident to make contact with us, or please contact the police," Marwa Bahssali said.
GWAAC add management at the shopping centre are looking through security footage to gain information on the time and date of the break-in, plus anything that might help catch the person or persons responsible.