A CHARITY has been hit by criminals for the second time in six weeks.

Dorset Reclaim, is a county-wide charity which offers donated electrical and household goods to local people and businesses on a low income.

Overnight between Wednesday, April 27 and Thursday, April 28, thieves broke down the door of the charity’s Dorchester branch on Poundbury West Industrial Estate and stole around £25 in cash from the till.

This follows an incident in March when staff installed a new fence to prevent dog walkers from fouling in a garden at the property.

When staff arrived the following Monday after installing the fence on the Friday, they found the fence posts had been ripped up and thrown across the garden by “mindless” vandals.

Dorchester Town Councillor and West Dorset District Councillor, David Taylor, was asked to launch an appeal by the charity.

He said: “The door was knocked open, they went straight to the till and stole £25.

“They didn’t take any computers or anything else. They seemed to me to know what they were doing.

Due to being a charity, Dorset Reclaim does not have a lot of money and Cllr Taylor has asked anyone who can help to repair the door to get in touch with the charity.

He also said that sadly nothing was caught on CCTV and urged anyone with any information to get in contact with the police.

Dorset Police confirmed that the break-in had been reported to them.

A spokesman said: “We were called at 8.04am on Thursday, April 28 to reports of a break-in at a premises.

“Staff left the premises secure at 5pm on Wednesday, April 27 and realised the next morning they had had a break-in.”

As well as helping local people furnish their homes, Dorset Reclaim also offers volunteer work and some helpers have learning difficulties who find the work and also maintaining the charity’s garden positive as it gives them something productive to do.

Anyone who can provide materials or money for the door should contact Angie Huxford at Dorset Reclaim on 01305 267711.

If you have any information about the break-in, contact Dorset Police on 101 and quote reference number 28:61.