Charity shop appeal after CCTV captures thief taking item from South Shields yard
South Shields Charity shop issues an appeal for help after CCTV captures thief taking item from store yard.
A South Tyneside armed forces support group has set its sights on finding a man they accuse of pinching valuable metal shelving from the back of their shop.
The culprit was captured on CCTV entering the rear yard of Veterans Response CIC’s recently closed down outlet in King Street, South Shields, and making off with the wrack.
Bosses had removed the £200 steel item ahead of moving it by van to their soon-to-open new premises at the Viking Centre in Jarrow, early on Thursday, April 29.
Item was hidden - but went missing
It was hidden behind a staff member’s vehicle in preparation for collection and removal but was found missing at about 9.30am.
CCTV was checked and showed a man pulling up in a low-loader wagon in Queen Street at the rear of the store and walking into the yard.
He then picks up the shelf, places it into his vehicle and drives off – all without the permission of Veterans Response staff.
Organisation founder Ian Driver, 60, said the theft would not stop their new shop opening as planned later this month but it was an expense he little needed.
Mr Driver added: “We’d very much like to find the culprit and bring him to justice. We are very good at finding things and people.
“We have not informed the police because they have other things to do, but members of the public may be able to help identify this man.
“We have him on CCTV and have posted the footage to Facebook. Someone will know who this is and can identify him.
‘This guy just walked in and took it’
“A proper scrapman would have asked for permission before removing this shelf, but this guy just walked in and took it.
“He was in and out in about 40 seconds, This item is gone, and we won’t get it back, but we would like to chat to him.
“We’d like to find out from him why he did this and to make him realise the error of his ways.
“I hope that anyone who can identify him will get in touch and let us know who he is.”
Anyone with information can contact Mr Driver on 0191 427 4764.