Sick thieves steal Scots food bank donations forcing it to SHUT in vile raid

Scottish Sun

3 days ago

The break-in has forced services, the food bank, kids and craft clubs to close
HEARTLESS Sick thieves steal Scots food bank donations forcing it to SHUT in vile raid
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THIEVES smashed their way into a church then trashed the vestry, raided the baptismal font before swiping donations for a food bank.
Councillor Fiona Hennebry revealed the crooks used a fire extinguisher to smash open a safe containing cash earmarked to feed the hungry and even stole groceries given for emergency meal packs.
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Dalmuir Barclay Church has been forced to cancel food bank sessions after donations were stolen
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Fiona Hennebry says the church would have helped the thieves if they were in need
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Cash to pay for groceries and food for needy families was stolen during the break-in
Credit: GETTY
She runs the pantry and says drop-in sessions have been scrapped alongside craft and kids clubs after the break-in at Dalmuir Barclay Church in Clydebank which saw the vestry and baptismal font ransacked.
Shocked kirk workers are still taking stock of what is missing amid fears valuables used in services were nicked with police claiming some items were irreplaceable.
She told The Scottish Sun: 'Volunteers discovered a fire exit had been smashed open.
'The safe had been bust open and a four-figure sum which was for the food pantry was taken.
'We have fresh food in our fridge and freezer, as well as dried goods and tins and some of that was gone too.
'The vestry had been broken into and the baptismal font disturbed while they were looking for valuables.
'It's been very disheartening because this has a big impact on the church and the wider community.
'Our kids club where children come to play and get a free meal during the summer has had to be cancelled, alongside our craft group and two pantry sessions.
'If somebody was that much in need, they should have came to us, we would have helped them.'
Ms Hennebry, who serves the area on West Dunbartonshire Council, says services have also been axed until at least the weekend.
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The children's summer club had to be dropped while police forensics teams swept the building after the night-time break-in.
Doors to at least nine cupboards have been broken and the minister's desk in the vestry rummaged through.
A cover placed over the font when it is not being used to baptise babies was pulled off and ditched.
Councillor Hennebry added: "So many people rely on the food pantry.
"The clubs are also really important for children who might not otherwise get a hot meal that day or for people who might be struggling with social isolation.
"The community is rallying around us and we are very thankful for that."
Staff and volunteers are taking an inventory in a bid to discover whether valuable crosses, candlesticks and religious items were taken during the raid between 2.40am and 3.50am on Wednesday.
Police Scotland's Detective Inspector Pamela Grant said: 'Break-ins and thefts like this are not victimless crimes.
'There's a financial loss of the stolen items and a cost to repair damage caused.
'However, some of the items taken cannot be replaced and this has an even bigger impact on those who attend the premises.
'I'm appealing to anyone with information about what happened, or the current whereabouts of the stolen items, to come forward.
'I'd also ask anyone with private CCTV, doorbell or dash-cam footage from the area in the early hours of Wednesday morning to please review this and bring anything of significance to our attention.'