Thieves have stolen £3,000 of supplies from a food bank in south London leaving hundreds of families without vital supplies.
The Southwark food bank in Peckham was raided overnight on Sunday leaving the shelves bare.
Volunteers discovered the break in on Monday and described the raid as “disheartening”.
The thieves forced the shutters open before emptying the shelves and stealing the laptop and phone used by volunteers to run the food bank.
A spokesperson from the food bank told Southwark News: “It’s been difficult getting donations in this year anyway.
“But to come in this morning and see this, it’s very disheartening.”
They added that they couldn’t understand why the thieves targeted the food bank especially as they give away stock for nothing in any case.
“If people are desperate we give them stuff. We never turn anyone anyway,” they said.
The food bank is appealing to the community to help them recover the stolen stock.
As well as the £3,000 of lost items they have been forced to pay £600 to fix the damage, including getting a new lock and shutter.
Police have launched an investigation into the burglary and are studying CCTV which shows a group grabbing items after forcing shutters open.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Police were called at 09:02hrs on Monday, 9 September to a report of a burglary at a premises on Mission Place, Peckham. Enquiries are ongoing.
“No arrests have been made. At this early stage, we are unable to confirm what has been taken.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
