VOLUNTEERS say they are devastated after thieves smashed a window and stole cash and jewellery from a charity shop.

The raid happened at around midnight on Monday at the Sussex Community Development Association shop in North Street in Hailsham.

Staff were left shocked after the raid cost the charity nearly £2,000, effectively wiping out all their hard work.

The charity’s retail manager Eve Collins said they have only recently started to set up shops to fund work in East Sussex.

She said: “A neighbour heard a bang, it must have been a brick going through the window at midnight on Monday.

“Everyone has worked really hard for the past two weeks at the pop-up shop, but our takings have been more or less lost.

“We are all devastated about that, as volunteers it is very frustrating. We almost can’t believe it really. How could someone stoop so low?”

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Police are investigating the incident, and Ms Collins said a forensics team had gone to the shop and found fingerprints. Meanwhile detectives are now reviewing CCTV.

She said: “A neighbour heard a bang, it must have been a brick going through the window at midnight on Monday.

“Our till was later found at Asda, they had levered it up, and left it with £30 in loose change.

“In total it has cost us around £1,500 to £2,000, which for a small charity shop takes us a long time to take.”

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The foundation supports a variety of services in communities across East Sussex which will all be affected.

These include counselling services, courses helping to boost people’s IT skills, a foodbank in Newhaven, a children’s nursery in Lewes, dementia care centres, and befriending.

To find out more information about the charity, or to donate, visit sussexcommunity.org.uk.