THE MANAGER of a community project that helps people in need has appealed for advice after his shop was broken into twice in two days.

Phelim O’Hagan, who runs the Community Furniture Project on Joule Road, Houndmills, also hit out at the “mindless vandalism” which “ruined” his shop.

At first, three windows were smashed on Monday night, and after he secured the building, he turned up on Wednesday morning only to find that people had taken a number of items and left freezer doors open, meaning all the food stored there had to be thrown away.

The burglars took around £400 in cash, cameras, a laptop and tools, including “anything battery powered”, according to Phelim.

This included a tool set that belonged to one of the volunteers, Leon, who had a stroke when he was born. “He had this lovely toolbox bought for him and it did his confidence an awful lot of good,” Phelim told the Gazette. “It is gone now.”

“You get a bit tearful because we have been in Basingstoke for 15 years and we have had 700 young people come through here.

“We get lots and lots of young people and we specialise in kids with learning difficulties and it hurts them, which is the saddest thing.”

Phelim said that the most worrying thing was about what would happen over Christmas. “The thing that we are really worried about is that it is coming up to the Christmas holidays. How can we secure it?

“If anybody has any advice about how we can secure these doors that would be great. We are not going to leave anything valuable but it would be soul-destroying if they got in again.”

He says this is around the 8th or 10th time they have been burgled, and is appealing for anyone who has any advice on how they can gain more security.

Hampshire Constabulary are also appealing for anyone with information on the incidents to get in touch.

A spokesperson said: “We’ve received reports of two incidents which took place at the Community Furniture Project on Joule Road, Basingstoke.

“The first was a criminal damage incident which took place over night on the 9 December into the 10 December. Three windows were smashed.

“It was later reported that overnight on 10 December into the 11 December, the premises were broken into and a computer and £400 cash was stolen from inside.

“Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact police on 101, quoting 44190444631.”

You can get in touch with the project on 01256 320 700.