Another shop has been hit by thieves targeting charities in Mid Sussex.

A thief distracted an assistant at Threshers in Keymer Road, Hassocks, before taking a Childline charity box, containing about £40, from the counter. The balding offender, who was wearing a tie and a beige jacket, was in his fifties.

This is the latest in a series of charity thefts in Hassocks and Burgess Hill over the last few weeks. More than £100 was taken from the till at Childhelp Hassocks, also in Keymer Road, just before Christmas. The children's charity unsuccessfully offered an amnesty, asking the thief to return the money anonymously in an envelope.

But after publicity in the Argus, Childhelp made up for the loss thanks to extra donations by generous local people and businesses. Pens, clothes, jewellery and other items have been stolen from the NCH Action for Children shop, Church Walk, Burgess Hill, in a string of recent thefts.

And in a high-profile case last month, a 13-year-old boy was sentenced to 16 hours at an attendance centre after stealing a Poppy Appeal tin in Burgess Hill.

The sentence was condemned as "light" by Forces Sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn, from Ditchling, who said the boy should visit ex-servicemen to learn about their sacrifices.

Sussex Police were unable to say if any of the incidents were linked. A spokesman said: "Stealing from charities is a particularly lowly type of theft, not that there is a good type."

Anyone who knows about the latest theft should call PC Jim Reade on 0845 6070999.

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