VOLUNTEERS at a Wokingham charity were shocked to find a burglar had ransacked their shop.

Staff came in to open up the Wokingham and District Association for the Elderly (WADE) charity shop on Tuesday, June 7, to see it had been trashed.

Wendy Hutchinson, the shop manager, discovered the break-in when she arrived to unlock the Rose Street shop at 8.30am.

She said the shop's CCTV cameras had filmed a man with baseball cap pulled low over his head break into the shop.

"He smashed a window with a brick and climbed in," she said.

"He searched the premises and went through the charity boxes so may have got some money from those. He made a bit of a mess.

"I think he was aware we had CCTV, he had a baseball cap and was keeping low with the hat pulled down. We didn't open until midday on Wednesday because we were clearing up."

The burglar had rifled through boxes, and trashed a filing cabinet whilst he ransacked the shop.

Thames Valley Police has launched an appeal for witnesses following the burglary.

Holly Turner, a spokesman for the force, said: "We would like to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in this area at this time or who has any information that could assist us with our investigation.

"Please contact us via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101 quoting reference 43160154547."

"The main thing is the aggravation and upset," Ms Hutchinson continued. "A lot of our volunteers are more mature women and it's never pleasant to realise that's happened."

The charity is waiting to hear the full cost of the burglary after having to pay for an emergency call out to cover the broken window and will now have to cover the cost of a new windowpane.

The WADE shop is tied to the day centre on Reading Road which provides a two-course midday meal, along with refreshments, hairdressing, and chiropody to guests.