Two petty thieves have been caught on camera stealing from a charity store run by 'Britain's kindest plumber' who raises funds for struggling families. Plumber James Anderson, 55, said the shoplifters distracted his wife and hid a discounted bottle of cologne worth £50 behind baby supplies they got for free at his store.
The heroic father-of-six founded the community interest company Depher which provides free heating and plumber services to those in desperate need. Last year, the good samaritan received the special recognition trophy at the Pride of Britain awards for his selfless services, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Alongside the CIC, James also runs the Depher Community Fund shop on Rosegrave Lane in Burnley, Lancashire where the 'heartbreaking' theft took place, with his wife, Barbara. The couple helps raise money for families living in poverty and has handed out free and discounted essential supplies during the cost of living crisis such as baby supplies, dried foods and sanitary items.
Speaking of the incident, James said: “They’re taking food off a child’s table. It’s just heartbreaking knowing that someone can come in, ask for support, and we’ve given them it with an open heart, and then he steals from us.
"We could have sold that and the money we make off that would then buy food, which then can be used to put on the table of a child or an adult or vulnerable person. It beggars belief, and it’s just so wrong on every single level.”
The dishonourable incident took place on Monday while Barbara was looking after the shop. He explained staff first handed the men several kids' sanitary items for free after they claimed they were receiving child benefit allowance.
But while one of the men distracted Barbara another picked up the aftershave and tucked it behind a pack of wipes he'd been given before exiting the store.
James explained: "You’re allowed a packet of nappies, a packet of wipes and some sanitary products. That’s every two weeks until the cost of living crisis is over.
"So we gave him a packet of nappies and a packet of baby wipes for free. They were having a walk around and seeing what is what inside the shop, and on the right-hand side we have a lot of food.
"The eldest gentleman with the blue jacket reached into the front shop window and pulled a box of after-shave out and walked around with it for a bit. The staff didn’t think any of it.
"They were nice, and he said thank you for the nappies and thanked them for the support, and then put it down. But he then distracted the shop worker, who is my wife Barbara, so she wouldn’t notice the young guy pick it up and put it behind the wipes that we gave him for free.
“He then turned to the left and walked out of the shop. It was about £50 worth of aftershave. It was a big bottle. But we weren’t selling it for that amount.”
James said it was shocking the cowardly men had chosen to target a charity shop and despite the terrible incident, he plans to continue the good deeds he's doing to help others.
He added: “You don’t go into a charity shop, ask for that help, receive it with an open heart and then steal from the same shop. It’s just not right.
"But it is what it is. And we can’t tarnish everyone with the same brush. So we’ve just got to carry on.”
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