HEARTLESS crooks have stolen thousands of pounds from a Southend golf club – including cash raised to support stroke patients. 

Thieves wearing masks and gloves smashed their way into Southend Golf Club, in Belfairs Woods, stealing alcohol, a safe, cash from the till and a series of charity tins. 

The charity collection tins included hundreds of pounds set to be donated to Southend Hospital’s stroke unit – a cause close to the heart of club captain Nick Chapman. 

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His father died following a stroke just under two years ago, sparking the club to choose the unit as their charity of the year, and the cash was set to be donated in just three weeks. 

Lee Porter, vice-captain at Southend Golf Club, said: “It is not just the point of being burgled, even though we feel violated, it is what they have done to this charity.

“This money meant a lot to Nick, after his father died, and would have meant a lot to the charity as well.

“We are understandably angry; it was money built up from the last year.

“Now we feel we can’t leave any charity pots about in case it happens again, and it shouldn’t be like that.”

The crooks broke through the conservatory, before pulling the bar doors off its hinges to get into the club.

Essex Police has confirmed it is investigating the incident. 

He said: “It is disgusting. We are devastated and heartbroken.

“We are a community club, a non-profit organisation, everything we run on is through the community.

“We still have bills, rents, taxes to pay.

“And someone feels they can come in, and take around £1,500 to £2,000-worth of stock, and charity money.

“We are devastated but also angry.”

A police spokesman said: “We received a report of a burglary at Southend Golf Club in Eastwood Road North, Leigh.

“It was reported that the club had been broken into at some point between 11.30pm on 13 November and 1pm on November 14.

“A three-figure sum of cash and laptops were taken and damages was also caused to the property.

“If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.

“Please quote the crime reference number 42/280495/22.”