The manager of an Oldham charity shop says she has been left “gutted” and in shock after her store was broken into but has been blown away by the support she has received.
Jeanette Nawaz was on her way to open United by Wool on Huddersfield Road on Wednesday morning when she saw smashed glass outside the shop.
She then discovered that one of the shutters had been prised open and the side window smashed with a brick.
Once inside she found that the shop’s collection tin containing £25 had been taken along with one of the fobs to open the shop’s shutters. The floor of the shop was covered in glass.
“Someone had prised open the shutter and smashed the window. They then climbed through the shelving behind the window to get in.
“It was awful. It was a shock. I stood on the doorstep and cried. Knowing that someone has been in there is a horrible feeling.
“It is just gutting that someone has been in and been through stuff,” she said.
Luckily the burglars did not find the till float which had been hidden.
Jeanette said the break in could have occurred at any time from 2pm on Monday when she left the unit until around 10am on Wednesday when she returned.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed the force are still investigating the burglary and said no arrests have been made.
Jeanette has had to purchase two replacement fobs for the shutters and is also paying to get the window replaced and the shutters secured which she estimates will cost £400.
She initially started United by Wool as a community knitting group from home and opened the shop unit within Hill Stores in 2018 when the group continued to grow. The group currently has 1,700 members on Facebook from across the country.
United by Wool receives donated knitwear from members that is then sent on to charities including Operation Orphan which works to keep orphans and vulnerable children around the world safe and warm.
Donations have recently been sent to Ukraine, Turkey and Syria to support humanitarian efforts.
Closer to home knitwear sets are sent to community hubs in the borough and The Royal Oldham Hospital.
To cover the running of the unit and postage costs, which can reach £100 a week, the shop sells wool and collects donations.
“Without the shop we can’t do what we do as we wouldn’t get the donations,” Jeannette said.
The group’s description on Facebook reads: “We are a friendly group for knitters and crocheters. We aim to create items for charities and good causes, as well as sharing hints, tips, and patterns.”
Members of the group and customers have rallied to support Jeannette following the break-in and have sent donations to cover the costs of the repairs.
Commenting on the support she has received, Jeannette said: “The amount of messages and support I’ve received just shows a negative can be turned into a positive. It’s so nice that they show such support.
“Everyone has built friendships in the group. It’s like one big family. They’re just lovely they really are.”
The mum of five, who moved to Oldham 35 years ago, began the group after seeing news reports in 2015 on three-year-old Alan Kurdi from Syria whose body was found on a beach in Turkey after he drowned attempting to reach Greece with his family.
“I had a little boy about the same age, and I wanted to help others so that’s what I did,” she said.
To donate to United by Wool email Unitedbywool@outlook.com, join the group on Facebook or call in at the shop.
Anyone with information regarding the burglary is urged to call the police on 101 quoting incident 929 of 17/05/2023.
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