A cafe owner has branded thieves who stole three charity boxes in three months as "beneath contempt".

Gill Draycott, owner of the Wells Stores caf and cheese shop in Stert Street, Abingdon, has now decided to keep the Save the Children boxes out of public reach.

She said: "I don't like doing it but I feel I have been left with no alternative. It's happened three times now - Whoever is doing this is likely to be back again."

Mrs Draycott has had the boxes for almost ten years, using tips to fill them. She said: "I know all my regular customers and I know they are not the sort of people who would do this.

"The latest theft happened when I was right at the back of the shop. I heard a rattling and then I heard the door slam and later realised it had gone.

"The first time a box was taken it was near the door, the second time I put it up further back and the last time it was right towards the back.

Shame

"I think whoever is taking them must be keeping an eye on the shop beforehand.

"I'd like to shame them because I find it appalling that people can stoop this low. They are beneath contempt.

"If they went out to these places and saw what families in places like Kosovo were suffering, maybe they'd think again. It makes me sick. It's the poor children who suffer.

"I would like to continue having a box where customers can see it but I can't take the risk any more."

Mrs Draycott said the boxes contained between £20 and £30 when they were taken.

A spokesman for the Abingdon branch of Save The Children said the problem was widespread. "It is very sad," she added. "Save The Children helps children in need all over the world."

Anyone with information should call Abingdon police on 01235 555959.

Story date: Tuesday 09 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.