Break-in at Hospice Shop.
We are sorry to hear that burglars have raided Langport's branch of the St Margaret's Somerset Hospice shop. It happened overnight between bank holiday Monday and Tuesday. The glass in the front door was smashed in and we believe a large amount of cash was taken - although that's not been confirmed.
It follows a string of burglaries and thefts across the area in recent months - including the infamous story of the cashpoint being blown out of the wall at NatWest.
But that had the air of an old Ealing Comedy 'crime caper' about it - with nobody hurt and the burglars getting away with tens of thousands of pounds. Ok, it was pure criminality but you can't help admiring their audacity. (Apparently they used camping gas and a tin-opener to get the ATM out)
However, whoever decided to target a charity shop is surely in a different category. Especially the burglar(s) who broke in to an organisation which looks after and cares for the terminally ill and their families at hospices in Taunton and Yeovil. 'Shameless bastards' springs to mind.
So perhaps in the coming days and weeks we can all think about having a clear out at home and taking some donations down to the Langport store - and even shop there a little more often - to help the hospice raise fresh funds to get over its financial loss.
The hospice shop has thanked local businesses for their support but has had to turn down offers of food from a nearby motel.
