The Great North Air Ambulance charity has been the target of a burglary in which thieves broke into the charity’s headquarters and stole cash and valuables. The air ambulance service provides emergency helicopter services that cater to injured outdoor enthusiasts.
Details of the Burglary
Located in Grange Road, Darlington, the office suffered extensive damage as a result of this incident. The burglars accessed the building by forcing their way through the fire entrance between 5:45 PM and 9 PM on March 10th. Among the items they took were prizes which had been donated for the service’s upcoming charity ball.
The prizes included diamond rings donated by members of the public to the charity and store cards that had been donated by local supermarkets. The burglars also made off with car keys and personal belongings of staff members along with charity cash collections. This incident could seriously impact the operations of the Great North Air Ambulance charity.
Comments from the Air Ambulance Service
The charity’s head of fundraising, Mandy Drake commented that the organization is shaken by the incident and is trying to figure out why anyone would want to steal from a charity, where “every penny makes a difference”.
With the burglary, the charity will be losing out on a lot as the burglars stole the prizes which were donated to support its fundraising efforts. GNAAS had been planning to host a charity ball in Newcastle on 4th June. From the money raised at the event, the air ambulance service intends to support the ongoing work of its aircraft and crew.
Drake pleads with the public to plug the gap caused by the burglary by donating more prizes. The supporters were reassured that the donations are safe in their hands, as they have taken measures to prevent future incidents like this.