Two crooks have been branded the lowest of the low after trying to burst into and steal from a hospice shop.
Their bungling attempt to raid the ACCORD Hospice shop was brought to a halt when the alarm sounded.
The pair had tried to smash a large window with a hammer, before turning on the front door of the flagship store on Paisley’s Glasgow Road.
The glass door was shattered and the door damaged before they backed off after dark on Wednesday night.
On the way one pinched a candle and made off with a black bag of donations left outside.
Alastair Crae (right), ACCORD’s finance director, said: “We are so disappointed that anyone would feel the need to break into a charity shop and stoop to this level.
“This is a much-loved shop and great asset for the community.
“We have five other shops and this is our flagship, by far and away our largest and is an important income generator.”
The alarm sounded when the glass door smashed — and the thieves are thought to have realised they were being filmed by the security camera.
Footage has now been passed to Paisley police in a bid to capture the dastardly duo.
One of the volunteers came into the mess yesterday morning.
The shop, which also sells large items of furniture, opened in July 2019.
Alastair added: “We are fortunate and pleased nobody got in.
“It is more the inconvenience factor now, the door has been broken and is out of use.
“The glass has been replaced at our cost and the damage will be a couple of hundred pounds to put right
“The police have looked at the CCTV footage and are making further enquiries.
“We would just confirm the premises are fully protected by an alarm system and CCTV and they have done their job.”
ACCORD supporters have been left furious at the incident.
Linda Dick said: “Must be someone who has never had cancer touch their life. Saddest thing ever.”
Frances Reid branded it “disgusting” and added: “I can’t believe that people can do this, never mind to a charity that helps people cope at the most difficult times.”
And Andrew Irvine added: “There an element of society who just have no moral or civic responsibility.”
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