DESPICABLE thieves have been raiding Salisbury's charity shops, taking cash and causing thousands of pounds' worth of damage.

The British Heart Foundation shop, in the High Street, was ransacked overnight last Thursday after a gang smashed a window and then stole collection boxes and jewellery donated by the public.

This followed a break-in at the Scope shop earlier this month and a spate of similar incidents at charity shops across the city in the weeks before Christmas.

"This is the third time we have been burgled since November," said the manager of the British Heart Foundation shop, Ruth Brown. "It is very distressing because all the money to repair the damage has to come from the charity."

The latest theft happened between 5pm on Thursday night and 8am the next morning, when volunteers arrived to find shards of glass all over the shop, stock dumped on the floor and their office in chaos.

A collection box containing £70 was missing and watches, rings and bracelets worth more than £200 had been taken.

The thieves also smashed the security camera, threw food around the kitchen, broke the till and caused damage that will cost more than £1,000 to repair.

"It took us all morning to clear up the mess, which means we also missed out on trade because the shop was closed," added Mrs Brown.

"The volunteers were very upset and it is such a shame for people who give donations in good faith to find they have been taken by these mindless thieves."

At Scope's shop, which is also in the High Street, two collection tins containing £80 were stolen on January 4.

This came two days after a box containing donations for the victims of the Asian tsunami was taken from Salisbury Cathedral.

"I can't believe they can steal from a charity," said Mrs Brown.

"These people might rely on us to help them or their families one day.

"The money could have paid for more defibrillators, doctors or nurses, but we're going to have to spend it on repairs after yet another burglary."

Salisbury police spokesman David Taylor said: "All burglaries are awful for the victims, but stealing from a charity is particularly despicable and shows the depths these people will sink to."

Anyone with information about any of the charity shop thefts is asked to call Salisbury police on 01722 411444, or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555111.