THIEVES smashed the window of a charity shop and caused £1,000 of damage during a break-in in the middle of the night.

Helen Rollason, in Wickford High Street, was targeted by crooks on Sunday morning who threw a rock through the window before stealing a collection tin and till.

The charity raises cash to support cancer patients. It is the second time this year the charity shop has been targeted and will now need to fork out £200 in insurance excesses before repairs are carried out.

Smashed - The damage caused by the break in Smashed - The damage caused by the break in (Image: Alison Matthews) The shop remained boarded up yesterday following the break-in. 

Head of retail at Helen Rollason, Alison Matthews, has emphasised the knock-on impact this damage has on their patients.

She said: “A rock was thrown through the front, we have no idea by who, and the collection pot has been stolen, they smashed the door and then climbed through.”

"This has impacted us so much because it took volunteers and staff time to clean it up and the same company from last time had to do further repairs to the door.

“£1,000 to us funds around 20 client treatments.

“Although we have insurance, there was excess on the recent attack and it is disappointing to see this happen, as we are a charity shop.

“It is disappointing that people’s standards have been lowered by people who are from wherever, causing criminal damage, and the impact that has not only on staff and volunteers but also our patients.

“We are relying on the success of our charity shops and customers that help us, it is things like this that set us back.”

Wickford recently suffered a spate of window smashing and attempted break-ins on October 10, with estate agent Temme English and hairdressers Into Hair suffering smashed windows and break in attempts.

Ms Matthews added: “It was around July we had our window first repaired, there was a spate of vandalism and there was another store done at the same time.

“I do think that pride in Wickford is something we can return back to though, you can see what is happening now as an unfortunate glitch in the system for us.”

The incident has been reported to Essex Police. Call 101 with information or if you witnessed the break-in.