THE OWNER of a launderette in Andover has told of his ‘disgust’ at the theft of a charity tin.

The Andover Launderette was broken into and an Enham Trust charity box was stolen just after 1am on Tuesday, July 5.

The thief broke into the premises in The Drove by breaking the glass-panelled window to the launderette. He then headed straight for the money tin.

Keith Gates, owner of Andover Launderette, said: “Well I’m quite disgusted to be honest.

“It’s not very pleasant.”

“It took £230 to replace the window and it took him 15 seconds to break the window and then take the charity box.

“It wouldn’t be that much in the tin as its only coins.”

Mr Gates has had to pay to restore the window, which was replaced only a few months ago following a separate incident.

He said: “The cost of the window to me isn’t really important, you know, but this guy clearly has no morals.

“I think to break in, it took him 15 seconds, he knew exactly what he wanted.”

“He made a direct line for the box and left.

“Who does that sort of thing?” The former broadcast installer, who has had the business since November last year, said that the Enham Trust box had been full and that he had intended to call up the disability charity for them to collect it.

Sarah Affleck, Enham Trust’s fundraising manager, said: “We are disappointed that this has happened, and hope that the public come forward to support the laundrette at this challenging time.

“Any information anyone can share will surely help us locate our stolen charity box, ensuring we can use these funds to continue in our vital work across the country – supporting disabled and disadvantaged people to live as independently as possible.”

Mr Gates admits that this was the first time he had put out a charity tin in the launderette and that the whole incident has put him off putting out another one.

However, he added: “The community have been very good and very supportive.

“They all say they’re quite disgusted by the person who’s done it.

“My customers aren’t happy to say the least.” Police thanked Mr Gates for providing the CCTV footage which caught the whole incident on camera.

As this paper went to press police confirmed that the incident is still under investigation and that no arrests had been made at this stage.