Mean thieves target hospital charity box

THIEVES have carried out a smash-and-grab raid on Rotherham General Hospital’s Gamma Scanner Appeal collection box and made off with cash donated by the public. Amazingly, it happened some time during the day in the hospital’s busy recepti
THIEVES have carried out a smash-and-grab raid on Rotherham General Hospital’s Gamma Scanner Appeal collection box and made off with cash donated by the public.
 

Amazingly, it happened some time during the day in the hospital’s busy reception area where the large Perspex collection box was located.

Hospital fund-raiser Tracy Williams said: "The main entrance is one of the busiest parts of the hospital and we have the collection box there so we can appeal to as many people as possible. 

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"It's a really solid, secure box which would take some considerable effort to damage.

"Most of our patients, visitors and staff are generous and, even in these tough times, people will spare cash and pop it in the box. 

 

"This time of year is usually about giving and I can't believe that anyone would steal from a charity.

"The box has been completely ruined and will have to be replaced, which means the charity not only loses the money that was stolen but also the money to get a new collection box, which will cost around £250.

"Every penny we raise goes towards improving things for patients and carers, providing those little extras to make things easier and more comfortable for people.

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"Things like non-slip slippers to reduce falls, comfort packs with essentials like toothpaste for people who come into hospital unexpectedly and play packs for children in A & E. 

"These are all things we could not get without donations.

"The collection box is great as it allows people to give as much or as little as they want. People expect their donations to end up doing some good in the hospital and not in the pockets of heartless vandals.

"It's a real shame that the charity has lost out here but it has not dented our fund-raising spirits. 

"We'll be doubling our efforts over the festive season to raise even more money."

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The theft has been reported to the police, who are examining CCTV footage.

Officers are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information should contact Rotherham South Safer Neighbourhood Team on 01709 832076 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Anyone wishing to make donation to the Rotherham Hospital Charity should contact Tracy on 01709 307589.

 
 
FUMING fund-raisers have lashed out at the mean thieves who stole money from a Christmas lights charity box on their front gate.

"I want to shame them," said Jean Cogill (59), of Kimberworth, whose husband Derek had bolted a collection box to the gate for visitors impressed by the festive display to donate to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Derek has put up Christmas lights on his house for several years but this year  decided to collect for charity for the first time to mark his 60th birthday next Wednesday (30).

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He also asked friends and family to donate instead of giving him presents and picked motor neurone disease research as his chosen cause as his brother Roger died from the disease 12 years ago.

But things turned sour when the thieves struck on the anniversary of Roger's death.

Jean heard a noise outside at around 6.15pm last Wednesday, but it wasn't until Derek went out to check the box at about 7.45pm that they discovered it had been broken into.

The Cogills' house has been a popular feature in the neighbourhood for 21 years due to their impressive array of Christmas lights, which have even been described as "where Father Christmas lives" by local schoolchildren.

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Jean added: "Luckily, we emptied the box on Sunday when there was around £15 in change in it, so there can't have been more than a few coppers when it was broken into."

The theft hasn't deterred the charitable pair as the box is now firmly secured back on the gate.

It is Derek's 60th birthday onTuesday and instead of presents, he wants people to donate to the charity.