Charity box warning

SHOPS and businesses in the Dereham area are being warned to keep an eye on their charity boxes after a spate of thefts.At least eight boxes have been stolen from shops and organisations in the town since the beginning of September.

SHOPS and businesses in the Dereham area are being warned to keep an eye on their charity boxes after a spate of thefts.

At least eight boxes have been stolen from shops and organisations in the town since the beginning of September.

A man is due to appear at Thetford Magistrates' Court on October 20 charged with the theft of five charity boxes in Dereham.

Insp Peter Walsh said police were aware there may be similar charity box thefts and urged people to get in touch if they had any information.

Bernie Marsham, from Dereham Tourist Association, said staff needed to be aware of how vulnerable charity boxes are.

He said money was taken from

the association, which operates from Church House, Church Street, Dereham, while he was volunteering there with his wife on September 12.

“As we arrived, we saw a young boy standing at the door. He said he wanted to go to the toilet so we let him in.

“We have a steel cupboard which the donations box goes in and the float. We saw the lock and clasp was broken on it and the money was gone.

“I told the boy when he came back that we had had a break-in and he said when he was in the toilet before he had heard a banging noise. I asked him to write down his name and address as a witness, but when it was checked out it was false, so we think he was the culprit.

“He was about 15 or 16 years old and he was full of chat about wanting to

be a volunteer and full of confidence. Before you know it he could be pushing some old lady over for her handbag or waiting outside the post office; he will get over confident. All the rest of the retired people who work here are unsettled by it,” said Mr Marsham.

Information to PC Amie Morfoot on 0845 4564567.