Express & Star

'It is devastating': Burglars target Beacon Centre warehouse for third time in seven months

Vandals smashed windows and stole van keys from a Black Country charity shop - causing around £1,000 worth of damage.

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WOLVERHAMPTON COPYRIGHT EXPRESS & STAR JAMIE RICKETTS 16/05/2021 - The Beacon Clearance Centre in Wolverhampton has been broken into yet again. In Picture: Michelle Reece..

The Beacon Clearance Centre in Wolverhampton was broken into for the third time in seven months on Friday night.

The site in Lower Walsall Street is used as a warehouse and shop by the Beacon Centre for the Blind and was forced to close on Saturday due to the damage.

Officers from West Midlands Police are now investigating the incident.

Stella Pitt, income generation director at the Sedgley-based sight loss charity, told the Express & Star: "This is the third time we have been broken into.

"We had one at the end of November, one in December and then this one happened overnight, on Friday night and Saturday.

The smashed window at the Beacon Centre. Photo: Beacon Centre

"It is devastating. We recently reopened after the difficult 12 months with the coronavirus pandemic.

"Waking up to that on Saturday morning was devastating.

"They smashed some windows of the offices and smashed the windows of the some vans inside the warehouse.

"They took some van keys so we will have to have them replaced.

"It is a shame people have to go to these lengths in their lives."

She estimates the damage will cost around £1,000 to repair.

Every week the shop has been closed during the pandemic, the charity has lost £9,500.

The broken window has seen been bordered up.

Michelle Reece outside with the boarded up window

Ms Pitt added: "It has been difficult during the past 12 months, not least for the staff. It has been hard for them to have been on furlough."

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We’re investigating a burglary at a charity shop in Walsall.

"It happened on Lower Walsall Street sometime between 5.30pm Friday night and 7.30am Saturday morning.

"Enquiries are ongoing, including forensic examination of the scene."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police, quoting log number 963.

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