A charity has had to fork out more than £4,000 after three boilers were stolen from bungalows which will be housing people in need.

Glen Keeling, chairman of the Consolidated Almshouse Charity of Swanscombe which is behind the project, says the theft feels like a “kick in the teeth” as it's not the first time it has been targeted.

Three boilers were delivered to the site in Milton Street at around 1.30pm on October 31, which were supposed to be installed at the bungalows the following day.

However, at around 9:30pm that evening, they were stolen.

Glen explained: “They broke into the site and jammed both of our CCTV cameras which activate any time someone steps on one of our properties.

“They were seen going into the site by a local resident who reported it to the police immediately but they failed to attend.

“They went over to the toilet area which was unlocked and kicked in the back panel of the toilet into the office. They clearly knew how a site works because they knew the keys would be on the electric box.”

The thieves then reportedly took the front door keys to all three of the properties, as well as the key for a storage container.

Glen added: “They then went into all three of the properties and stole the brand new boilers that hadn't even been on the site for six hours and took them over the fence and did a runner. They were being stored out of sight.

“Boilers aren’t that heavy so they passed them over the eight foot hoarding.

“They also took a pair of step ladders, some wire and some bathroom lights.”

There were also uninstalled cookers and hobs in the bungalows, however they were left behind.

“It was a very targeted attack because they knew how to disable the cameras, that the boilers had just been delivered, that the toilet door would be unlocked and where the keys were,” Glen said.

“Any sort of noise there would have echoed because they would've had to kick in a back panel so there would've been quite a lot of noise on the site. They would have spent about 20 to 30 minutes doing this.”

A crime scene worker from Kent Police attended the following day.

It is not the first time the charity’s buildings have been targeted.

In early August, £3,500 worth of insulation boards were stolen, and at the end of that month a cement mixer was taken from the site.

On October 15, a newly installed window at one of the bungalows was shot with a BB gun and broken.

“It feels like a kick in the teeth because as a trustee it's not personal but it is personal,” Glen said.

“If we weren’t doing this no one else potentially might be.

“We’re doing this voluntarily and all this has added extra stress. But it’s all about the bigger picture.”

The thefts mean the charity has had to push back the launch date for the bungalows, however it is hoped they will be up and running by the end of the month.

The replacement boilers cost the charity £4,319 - money which has been taken out of the carpet and curtain fund. Donations can be made to help the charity here.

The build is funded by a £300,000 charity mortgage and the balance is coming from reserves, however they are already 10% over budget.

They will not have to pay for new lights and wiring as their electrician will be replacing them free of charge.

As well as this, they had to change the locks at all of the properties.

The one-bedroom homes were approved by Dartford council in February and are on land previously occupied by a Scout hut which was demolished between 2006 and 2007.

The properties will be available to qualifying “beneficiaries” with a connection to Swanscombe and Greenhithe, aged 55 years or over, who are of limited financial means.

Residents will pay a weekly maintenance contribution which is similar to rent but different in law, and less than the commercial rate.

The brownfield site also includes five parking spaces, which will be accessed via Wallace Gardens, and a communal area for occupiers to use.

Kent Police has confirmed it is investigating following the break-in and burglary.

Officers are appealing to anyone with information to call the appeal line on 01474 366149, quoting reference 46/185890/24.