The nightmare before Christmas - Blackburn's Rummage Rescuers suffers three break-ins in 10 days

In what CEO Liz Crook has described as 'devastating news', Rummage Rescuers in Blackburn had three of its sites targeted and broken into, with large amounts of cash and children's Christmas stock stolen, as well as hundreds of pounds worth of damage caused to the buildings.

And during one of the incidents, a thief smashed his way into a warehouse through rear doors and spent two hours ransacking the place.

Rummage Rescuers has five sites across Blackburn - two shops in the town centre, two warehouses close to Blackburn fire station, and a store in Mill Hill.

On November 19, the warehouse in Canterbury Street was broken into with damage done to the shutters, and just three days later, the Harrison Street warehouse was targeted, with thieves stealing cash from a safe, which was securely hidden in the premise.

The Canterbury Street warehouse

And then, on November 29, the Rummage Rescuers shop on Town Hall Street was broken into, with criminals trying to access the store through the back door.

Mrs Crook said: "We’re devastated, and are feeling sad and shocked by the last few days. This has hit us hard but it's hit the community harder.

"We help everyone we can but this is a huge setback.

"Christmas projects for the needy have been affected, it's just awful.

"A large amount of cash for the kids' Christmas projects has gone, we've been left with smashed-up iPads and phones.

"It's devastating news. All of our sites are very secure but we can’t believe they got in.

"This has hit us hard - the damages will put insurance premiums up, or our landlord will."

The boarded up door at the Harrison Street warehouse

The manager of the sites said during the Harrison Street burglary, thieves damaged the roller shutter at the rear of the warehouse, smashed their way into the premise through wooden-slatted doors, which have since been boarded up, before spending two hours inside the building, kicking in doors, and using tools from the warehouse to break into a safe, which was locked in a separate room within the building.

The police were called to all three premises with forensics taking fingerprints and footprints, but Ms Crook says the incidents feel personal, and have affected everyone who puts time and effort into making a difference in the community.

She added: "It feels like we've been targeted and I've asked the police to release CCTV on their social media channels to help catch the culprits, but in the meantime we are asking anyone who can help and donate to do so."

The shutters were damaged and the back door kicked-in

A fundraising appeal has now been launched, with anyone wanting to donate able to do so via PayPal or by taking donations to any of the Rummage Rescuers sites.

Mrs Crook continued: "I don’t like doing these fundraising pages but we need to to ensure we complete the Christmas projects for our needy children.

"Volunteers have worked so hard to raise funds, and so far we have raised about £1,615 for the stolen presents but more is needed.

"Thank you to those who have helped so far but please keep supporting us so the kiddies/families can have a special Christmas."

The police have been contacted for a statement but anyone with information can call 101 quoting log numbers 0371 of November 19 for the Canterbury Street incident, 0316 of November 22 for the Harrison Street incident, or 0251 of November 29 for the Town Hall Street incident.