A THIEF has used bolt cutters to steal a chained donation box from an Oldham charity shop.

The thief struck just after 12pm on Thursday, while shop assistants at the Oxfam store on Yorkshire street were answering a customer’s query.

It only took a matter of seconds for the theft to take place and the criminal to flee the scene, according to witnesses.

Manager, Nic Oakes said: “The shop has been through a tough time trying to recover, as all other Oldham businesses are, from the effects of lockdown and the volunteers were working hard to make up for lost time.”

The donations in the box were for Oxfam’s India coronavirus appeal.

The charity is working with the government to distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline health workers in India as the country battles a second deadly wave of Covid-19.

Oxfam is also helping to fund oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment for hospitals and health centres in India, as well as support vaccination projects.

The theft has spurred Ms Oakes and the other volunteer staff to “work even harder” to make up for the loss.

The manager is appealing for anyone in the area who may have witnessed the incident to come forward with any information.