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.