CHRISTMAS could be ruined for sick and underprivileged children after a break-in at The Well Wish Society in Wombwell.
The High Street shop has been raising money and bought presents for ill and underprivileged children as part of its Christmas Wish Campaign.
But a break-in through the roof in the early hours of last Monday morning has devastated their plans.
The shop's safe was smashed open and about £2,000 was taken from fifteen charity boxes that were kept inside.
Electrical goods and clothing were also stolen, as was food being collected for the family of a three-year-old cancer sufferer.
It's a bitter blow for the charity which has been saving up since the start of November.
Chairman Phil Robinson-Jones said: "We would guess that between £1,700-£2,000 has been taken from the safe.
"To steal presents and money that's intended for children with cancer and their families is the lowest of the low. I don't think you can get much worse than that.
"It's pretty much wiped out our Christmas Wish Campaign and we're going to need a lot of help to get it back on track."
Music players that were stolen were for teenagers in Chancet Wood in Sheffield, which provides disabled youngsters with respite care.
Shop manager Vasco Yonchev says the charity will now try to rally around to make up for their losses.
He said: "We're going to have to double our efforts this year to finish the work we have started. We need to try and stay positive and be as effective as we can in the time we have left."
There was another break-in at Gabby's Florist two doors down from The Well Wish Society. Again, charity boxes were emptied and, bizarrely, a piece of cake was cut and taken too.
Anyone with information should call the police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting incident number 230 of December 9, 2013.
