Charity owner 'deflated' after designer bags and jacket stolen from shop in Grangemouth, Falkirk

Police are investigating after second hand designer items were stolen from a charity shop in Falkirk.

Officers were called to the Kersiebank Community Project, based in Grangemouth town centre at La Porte Precinct, after receiving reports of a robbery on Wednesday morning.

A DKNY bag, two Valentino bags, and a jacket from Next were among the expensive items stolen from a second hand designer stall.

Bindi Green, chairperson for the charity, said the entire shop was “deflated and angry” following the incident.

A Next jacket was also stolen from the shop. Kersiebank Community Project via Supplied

They said: “We have recently advertised on social media that we were opening a second hand designer stall in our shop to raise funds for our foodbank and to give something back to the community with the cost of living crisis continuing.

“We had taken down bags, jackets, dresses and outfits to sell on Saturday to allow us to create a kitty to start buying from the public.

“Someone has come into our shop and stolen the most expensive items there, we are now unable to go ahead with the buying of the items.

“There are between 15-20 volunteers in the charity who work around 25 hours per week in the shop then we have social media to look after, emails, furnishing houses and emptying them. We have the cost of the van to run and electricity bills to pay. We rely heavily on the income from the shop to continue running the foodbank.

“We are all deflated, upset and angry with what has happened.”

The shop is now working with Police Scotland to identify those responsible, but confirmed it received a boost in the shape of a charitable donation from another clothing shop.

They added: “It has set us back, but it won’t stop us. We have received a message from the owner of Quest in Falkirk who has very kindly offered to make a donation. This will get us started again.

“Our indoor market runs every Saturday from our premises in La Porte Precinct, Grangemouth. The designer stall won’t be set up this weekend but that won’t stop our market going ahead and we are hoping to be all set up for the following weekend.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers are investigating a theft of items from a charity shop at La Porte Precinct, Grangemouth which has occurred on the morning of Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

“Enquiries are at an early stage and ongoing.

“We would encourage anyone with information to contact Police on 101, quoting incident 1327 of February 21.”