This Is Guernsey

By Gemma Hockey

Tim Cadd and Alison Mockett of the Food Bar in Market Street are incensed that thieves took donation money on Saturday intended for the Children in Need appeal. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0673245)

CHARITY money intended for the BBC’s Children in Need appeal has been stolen from a collection box at the Food Bar in Market Street.

The outlet’s manager, Tim Cladd, said he noticed the charity money had been taken at about 2pm on Saturday.

‘We had a load of biscuits and cookies out on display and told people to help themselves and make a donation to Children in Need. I know the event was on Friday, but we decided to run it until the end of Saturday to help raise more money,’ he said.

‘They must have taken it between noon and 2pm, as when I checked it at 2pm there was only loose change at the bottom of the bowl.

‘We left it on the counter so people could see it and so that it would encourage people to make donations,’ he said.

Mr Cladd, 49, who moved to the island from the UK in September last year, said he never expected a crime like this to happen in Guernsey.

‘I cannot believe that people can be so low.’

He did not know how much money had been collected, but that was not the point.

‘It wasn’t a huge amount, but it’s the principle of it. This money was for charity. Who would do something like this?

‘I cannot understand this sort of mentality. Most people you meet here are honest and nice.’

• A spokesperson for BBC Guernsey said yesterday that local contributions from the appeal had totalled £21,000 so far.
• It is estimated that £47,000 has been raised in the Channel Islands.

Article posted on 18th November, 2008 - 2.29pm