THE community in Melksham has rallied to support staff at two charity shops who were left devastated after heartless thieves broke in on Sunday night, stealing cash and ransacking their stores.

The Wiltshire Mind and Dorothy House stores in Church Street were both targeted on Sunday evening (February 12), along with the neighbouring W J Beaven butcher's shop.

It is believed the thieves broke into Wiltshire Mind in Church Street first, forcing the locks and stealing the safe, before moving on to the Dorothy House shop next door.

Wiltshire Mind shop manager Bev Harris said: "The shop was a mess and the safe had been taken. It really shocked me, it is really quite sad that this would happen."

But after posting about the incident on Facebook, Mrs Harris was inundated with messages of support and offers to help fix the damage. Second-hand furniture shop Dave's Emporium in Bath Road has donated a replacement door and a Swindon firm, MST, has offered to fit it.

"It was touching that people would do that,” she said. "We couldn’t afford all of it new."

Chief executive of Wiltshire Mind, Carolyn Beale, said the impact of the burglary is much greater than the loss of a day’s takings.

“As we are a totally unfunded charity which raises money through our shop and donations, this has had a big effect on us. If we were a large charity with multiple shops then it wouldn’t be as severe, but we aren’t.”

The thieves also stole jewellery and a cash box from Dorothy House, and £80 from W J Beaven.

Liz Holland, manager of the Dorothy House shop, said: “They left a mess. Clothes were piled up on the floor like they were going to be taken. The office was ransacked.

“This has been a shock to everybody. I feel quite shaken up. A lot of passers-by and customers have said how dreadful this is, stealing from charity shops. We’ve had a lot of support, though, from the public and other shops."

A spokesman from Wiltshire Police said: “If anyone witnessed the incident in Church Street they are asked to call the police on 101 or alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”