A CROOK used a crowbar to smash through the front doors of a charity – causing hundreds of pounds of damage and fleeing with ten bottles of booze.

Wickford’s Royal British Legion, in Runwell Road, was targeted on Wednesday by a balaclava-clad crook.

CCTV footage of the incident shows him smash through the front door with a crowbar before searching the building for valuables.

He fled the scene on foot carrying ten bottles of spirits.

The club, which operates as a social club for those involved in the Armed Forces past and present, helps support the Royal British Legion in the work it does supporting veterans throughout the year.

Wickford Royal British Legion chairman Mark Bardwell has slammed the thief for the damage and stress caused.

He said: “It’s not thousands but it is coming up to that to have the doors replaced and we have had to replace the spirits as well.

“The one good thing is from the images he looked like an opportunist, he hadn’t looked around the place and when he exited the building he tried an internal door.

“It is really scary though, we have primarily female staff, and they are concerned about locking up on evenings. This is the bar area and they are the last to leave so even with the security cameras we have had to reassure them.

“It is disgusting. The Royal British Legion is a charitable place – if he came in and was desperate for money and drink we may have donated but he went down the thief’s route.”

The Royal British Legion has reported the incident to Essex Police, however Mr Bardwell said no arrests had been made at this stage.

He said the crook tried the club’s bolted safe but thankfully abandoned it after being unable to access it, causing him to then grab as much alcohol as he could carry.

“I rocked up five minutes after and the police were called, the rest is history,” Mr Bardwell added.

Essex Police has been contacted for comment. Call 101 with information.