A CHARITY shop plagued by thieves pilfering donated goods has been forced to install CCTV cameras.

The East Anglia Children’s Hospice (EACH) shop, in High Street, Halstead, has put up two cameras at a cost of £70 to deter the thieves.

Manager Bradley Till believes the sudden increase is down to a lack of police in the town and the closure of the police station.

He said: “We have seen a big increase.

“We find empty hangers where the clothes have been stolen from them and the hangers hidden.

“It is a shame. This is a children’s charity and lots of stuff is being taken.

“Most items cost about £4, or it might go up to £6 for a really good coat – it is sad that people are stealing these. It has been worse since the police station closed.

“People know that by the time the police arrive from Braintree or Sudbury, they are safely home.

“I believe it is probably local people, or maybe a mix of local people and those from other towns.”

Mr Till had the camera system at home but brought it in to protect the shop and he plans to buy two more cameras for £22 to put in the shop.

He says that so far the cameras have been effective, as they have not noticed any recent incidents, and he believes the cameras are working well as a deterrent.

Charity shop Scope, also on the High Street, has recently been targeted by thieves, too. A £38 pram was stolen from outside the shop last week.

Chief Insp Craig Carrington said: “We would encourage people to take steps to protect their premises and advice can be got from our crime prevention officers. Cameras are a good way to prevent crime and help with prosecutions as well.”

Ralph Beevers, divisional retail manager at Scope, said: “It is shocking that anyone would steal from a charity shop.

“Our staff and volunteers in Halstead work incredibly hard to raise vital funds for disabled people and their families, so this theft was a real blow.”