Thieves smash through roof

Thieves smashed through the ceiling of a Black Country charity shop to get to the lower floor and steal money from a safe.

Just £75 was taken from the Marie Curie Cancer Care shop, in High Street, Stourbridge, in the raid.

But bosses now face having to fork out hundreds of pounds to have the damage repaired.

The raiders struck in the early hours of Friday, but staff were still counting the costs of the attack today.

It is believed the thieves managed to get into the upper floors of the charity shop after breaking thorugh a fire door on the neighbouring building. They then smashed holes through the ceiling to reach the lower floor and smash open the safe.

Staff today said they had been left heartbroken by the theft and the damage which had been caused to the shop.

Manager Debbie Fairley said: "I locked up at around 5.20pm on Thursday and when my colleague opened up again at 9am on Friday the damage was discovered."

Mrs Fairley added it was very sad to think someone would steal from a charity. "It is heartbreaking because people volunteer their time to bring in cash for a good cause," she said. Police are investigating.