THIEVES snatched two purses containing about £140 from a charity event in Kidlington.
Volunteers were running a “colossal cake sale” in aid of forces charity Help for Heroes at the St John’s Ambulance Hall, off Kidlington High Street on Saturday. They had spent all week baking cakes to sell in aid of the cause.
Two hours after the sale started, volunteers realised their purses had been taken from their handbags – one containing £100 cash and the other £40 in cash. The money was their own, not cash collected for Help for Heroes.
Volunteer Emma Danby said: “The minute we discovered the theft, we all did a check and hid everything.
“We think it was a distraction burglary.”
The event raised over £1,050 for Help for Heroes. About 15 people were helping to run the sale.
Ms Danby added: “It’s just the sheer number of hours that all these ladies have worked.
“They were all absolutely shattered because they had worked so hard. And to think someone could come along and steal their purses is absolutely outrageous.”
The thefts have been reported to Thames Valley Police.
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