A CHARITY shop manager has hit out at a “sickening” thief who stole a foreign student volunteer’s purse as she worked.

Linda Tramontini, boss of the British Red Cross shop in Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, said the Korean student, aged 36 and known in England as Jenna, was too upset and embarrassed to talk about the theft.

Jenna, who has been a volunteer for 10 months, is due to head off on a trip around Europe before returning home in June, but her plans could now be delayed as the purse contained her visa.

“The chap made four attempts and when another member of staff put some money in the till he took the purse from the counter,” said Linda.

“She’s lost a purse of sentimental value and she’s lost cash, but more importantly she’s lost her student visa, which is going to cost £100 to replace.

“We’ve had a little collection for her. I don’t want her to go home with a bitter taste at the end of her travels.

“For me it’s sickening that somebody comes into a charity shop to steal,” she said.

Linda said that stock thefts were a regular occurrence and a new CCTV system had reduced general incidents of stealing, but this was the first time that a staff member had been targeted.

The purse snatch was caught on CCTV and the footage has been handed to police.

Police said no arrests had yet been made over the incident, which happened at around 3.45pm on Friday, April 20.