The BLH charity shop in Haslemere High Street has been targeted twice by two men, who take donated items and sell them for a profit at car boot sales in Surrey and East Hampshire, its staff claim.

Manager Christine Kinge said: “Outside the shop, we have a bin for donations and on two separate occasions we have knowledge of, we have had the bin emptied and rummaged through by a father and son team.

“They empty the bin and then go through all the stock to pick and choose what they want to take.

“The first occasion they were there for half an hour, nobody challenged them but one person was kind enough to take pictures. The second occasion was on Easter Sunday but they were caught in the act by one off my volunteers.

“The police did come out on the first occasion but 15 minutes after they had gone. After reporting it and getting a crime reference number, they seem reluctant to do anything about it. We have number plate, make and model of their car – but this hasn’t seemed to make a difference.

“We all know this does happen, but not to this extent and I think that everyone should be made aware.

“The car is always packed and they have a job to get any more into it. The donations are donated to help various charities, not for opportunists to help themselves.

“The BLH charity helps the local community who are in financial difficulties, and theft of donations has a knock-on effect on this.”