Mountain biker 'steals from dying patients'

A man went in to the St Leonard's Hospice charity shop in Fourth Avenue, Tang Hall, and stole cash from a box in a back room as staff served customers.

Shop manager Sue Bonarius called police after seeing the man make off and realising the money was missing.

She said: "We are so disappointed that someone would do this, because they are basically stealing from the patients of St Leonard's. This is the first time we have had anybody do anything as blatant as this. The staff here are upset by what has happened."

Police described the culprit as a white male, 6ft tall, in his late teens or early twenties. He was wearing a blue baseball cap and a blue zip-up jacket with blue jeans. He made off on a mountain bike.

The sneak theft took place on Saturday at about noon.

St Leonard's is part of a national voluntary and independent service with a number of shops in York raising money for people with life-threatening or terminal illnesses - often, though not always, cancer.

Mrs Bonarius said she didn't want to put an exact figure on the amount of money taken, but said it was tens rather than hundreds of pounds.

Hairdresser Terry Smith whose shop Classic Cutz is opposite St Leonard's, said he was working at the time, but heard the commotion and saw a man running out of the shop.

He said: "I have been in this shop for 12 years and am friendly with the staff at St Leonard's. Most of them work as volunteers and for this to happen is just sickening.

"Whoever did this is a heartless and immoral thief and I hope he's brought to book as soon as possible."

As a goodwill gesture Mr Smith said he would be contributing some of his days' takings to help pay back the stolen money.

PC Dan Preston of York Police said: "Burglary is always antisocial behaviour but stealing from a charity shop is despicable. It was just lucky that in this instance nobody was hurt."

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 01904 669884.

Updated: 10:39 Monday, August 22, 2005