A charity worker has slammed burglars who carried out a late-night raid on their Gateshead premises.
Thieves broke into Age UK Gateshead and stole around £1,000 in cash, phones, laptops and iPads worth thousands of pounds.
It comes after a spate of incidents targeting the charity which have seen minibuses stolen and vandalised over the last 12 months.
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Ryan Baxter, volunteer coordinator, said: "Someone broke in through our kitchen window at our Dementia Day Centre which is attached to the main office. They came through to the office and stole iPads and the petty cash.
"It has an impact on the service we can provide to our clients. We bring them here every day for tea, biscuits and chat.
"We serve lunch but when the kitchen is out it limits the service."
Ryan said the break-in is the latest in a string of incidents which have seen three buses stolen and a further three vandalised, with wheels stolen and windows smashed.
"These crimes hurt the most vulnerable in our community, they strain our services that we put in place to enrich their lives, and that is the most tragic aspect of all this," Ryan said.
"We are here to improve lives, and help people through some of the most difficult times of their lives, and when someone steals a bus or smashes a window, they're targeting our ability to help those people. It is truly shocking behaviour."
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "Police were contacted at 7.50am on Friday regarding a report of burglary at Age UK, on Sunderland Road, Gateshead.
"It was reported an offender has gained entry to the property by smashing a window. It is believed they stole an iPad before leaving the scene. An investigation has been launched and enquiries ongoing.
"Anyone with information is asked to contact police using the 'Tell us Something' page on our website, quoting log NP-20230210-0168."
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