Locksmith's donation to shut out RSPCA thieves
AN animal charity targeted by thieves twice in two months has had an upgraded state-of-the-art security system installed thanks to a big-hearted businessman.
The RSPCA centre in Hillfield Lane, Stretton, was raided just before Christmas and in the New Year.
On each occasion money raised by the people of Burton was stolen.
Following the break-ins Tim Gray, the owner of Livens Ltd, a locksmith company based in High Street, Burton, offered to update the charity’s security systems free of charge to prevent any further thefts.
Mr Gray told the Mail: “To have all the fund-raising money stolen from a charity is a terrible thing to happen.
“Stealing from a charity is ridiculous and when we heard what had happened we felt we had to do something to help.
“Because the RSPCA receives no Government funding or any other financial income other than through fund-raising by the people of Burton, it cannot afford to update its security.
“With the new system we have fitted it will keep people’s hard-earned fund-raising money safe, as well as the site in general.”
Hardy Signs in Burton also stepped forward to help by donating a sign warning law-breakers to stay away from the site.
Yvonne Asker, manager of the Stretton RSPCA branch, said she was ‘sincerely grateful’ for the kindness and support by local businesses and the police.
She said: “We’ve had two recent breakins where thieves have entered our site and stole charity money.
“We are a self-funding branch and have to raise every penny ourselves to keep the local charity going. We’re solely reliant on the generosity of the public and on local businesses, so we are eternally grateful for this.
“I’d like to say a huge thanks to Tim at Livens for providing the security equipment, Nigel at Staffordshire Police who investigated the break-ins and to Adam Bates at Hardy Signs for donating a security warning sign.”
PC Nigel Armitage said: “The charity cannot afford to lose any of its fund-raising money and hopefully this new system will prevent any further incidents.
“It’s great to see partnerships working together to reduce crime.”
