Heartless criminal preying on people’s goodwill by masquerading as charity collectors are stealing collection bags from outside homes in Montrose.
Councillor David May said he was “disgusted” crooks were denying money to charities.
The PDSA’s High Street shop has put out between 600 and 700 bags in an area and gone back to be told by residents they had been collected from their doorsteps in an unmarked white van.
“I would appeal to anyone who knows who is responsible to get in touch with the police immediately. I always try if possible to take my bags down to charity shops during opening hours and I would urge others to consider doing this in light of what is happening,” Mr May said.
The shop has also been targeted every week for the past six months by thieves who have stolen collection bags left outside the door prompting the charity to offer an extra collection.
Store manager Ramona McMahon said people leave items out for collection in good faith and these thefts may lead to some thinking twice about donating in this doorstep manner.Huge problemShe said, “We’ve heard about bogus vans going around taking bags which have been left out for collection. It’s a huge problem and it’s getting even worse.
“We put out bags on Tuesday for collection on Friday and Friday for collection on Tuesday. We say on the bags that we’ll be back to collect them after 9am in the morning.”
She added, “I’ve seen me getting a big sackful of 100 DVDs. We only sell them for £2 each, but that’s £200 we’re losing out on and that’s just from one bag.”
There is also a problem in the area of crooks appealing for charity bags to make a profit for themselves.
Ramona said donations of clothes, books and other items left outside the High Street shop have also been stolen regularly and staff have been shocked by the frequency of the thefts.
The PDSA is urging its supporters not to leave bags or other items outside the store while it is closed and hand them in during opening hours 9am to 5pm or call 01674 673276 to arrange collection.
She said that if the van that turns up does not have PDSA markings, then do not hand the donations over.
Photo used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user net_efekt.