Charity shop shockers

David Fountain, Salvation Army Charity store manager

Skulls, false teeth and guns are amongst the ‘unwanted goods’ charity shops receive in Bournemouth.

The quiet seaside town renowned for its idyllic beaches and a hot spot for tourists, seems to have a more sinister side.

David Fountain, store manager of Winton Salvation Army charity shop said: “Over the years we have received a human skull, several large sums of money and a gun.”

Mr Fountain explained that they contact the Police when such ‘donations’ are made.

Barnardo’s charity shop worker, Fwah Storm, said: “We often get very strange donations, we once had two pairs of numchucks come into the store. We even had a book by Roger Kipling with an embroidered Swastika, we later found out it was a peace symbol when the book was published.”

Other charity shop shockers include false teeth, used nappies and stripped wallpaper.

Winton’s latest recession victim

Today was a sad day for the staff at Winton’s Ethel Austin who are now left jobless. In their last day of trading, the store was busy and offering 20% discounts on most products.

The manager was in good spirits but was unable to comment on the closure.

The chain went into administration last week and several stores have been closed across the country.

Ethel Austin is not the only sign of the tough economic times hitting the area. The old Woolworth’s store on Winton high street has been empty for over a year. Work is now beginning on transforming the old family favourite into a 99p store.

Fresh appeal to find missing children

Families with missing children are given new hope as an exciting new scheme hits the UK.

A one off concert, to be held in Bournemouth, will showcase hand-drawn portraits of missing children this May. The event is an extension of the Guardian Angel Project which has reunited hundreds of families in the States.

Bournemouth based illustrator, Fwah Storm, was contacted by American artist John Paul Thornton, following the success of the project.

Twenty-eight-year-0ld Fwah, a Barnardo's worker , said: "I was honoured to be contacted and am determined to make sure it is a big hit here too. I will be drawing the portraits over the next few months and am looking forward to organising the event."

Rock band Esoterica, who have played at the Download festival along side bands such as Korn and Black Sabbath, will be headlining the event which will take place at The Inferno bar.

Around 50 portraits will be exhibited at the concert, which hopes to raise funds and awareness of the cause. All profits will be donated to the Barnardo's charity.

Fwah added: "The event will be huge and include bands and magicians as well as the drawings. We are hoping for a big turnout."

Charity Cheaters

A Bournemouth woman is causing chaos in charity shops by stealing, rooting through bins and swapping price tags on goods.

The woman who is described as well dressed, around 50 years old, with blonde curly hair has been swindling charity shops in Winton and Westbourne.

Her antics recently took a step up and she has now banned from several shops.

Sarah Penny, ReStore volunteer, said: “A friend of mine who works in another charity shop warned me about this woman. She comes in most days and we have to watch her like a hawk.”

She continued: “She is often rooting through the bins out the back and swapping the price tags. I find it sad that people will steal from charity shops and it often isn’t who you think it would be.”

Several charity shops have reported an increase in the number of thefts recorded suggesting this woman is not alone and shoplifting is rife in the area.

A lack of stock taking and security have been raised as contributory factors for the rise in thefts.

Charity shop workers from the British Heart Foundation and Tenovus described these instances as ‘a slap in the face’.

The newly opened Salvation Army charity shop in Westbourne has been particularly affected. This shop has not installed changing rooms in order to deter criminals from stealing.

Manager Linda Cross said: “We haven’t had to ban anyone yet, but I can definitely see that happening in the future.”

At the Marie Curie Cancer Care shop, Assistant Manager Denise Wilcox said: “I find it so frustrating and have had to ban quite a number of people. But, I am often working downstairs and they will still come in, so it is hard to enforce.”

Several volunteers suspect the thieves go on to sell the stolen items.