THIEVES broke into a charity shop and stole money collected for tsunami victims. It was the third raid on the Oxfam shop in Gabriels Hill, Maidstone, in as many weeks.

Burlars made off with a tsunami collection box and smashed open the safe which contained £130 for the appeal.

Shop manager Matthew Fray said: "It is very depressing that people can do something like this." He said no money was now kept in the shop overnight.

Mr Fray said: "It is not the first time we have been burgled. Thieves got in and stole money twice when we were shut for Christmas too."

In all more than £540 has been stolen and thousnads of pounds damage caused.

Mr Fray stressed: "It makes me so angry. They have completely ransacked the shop. This is money that could be better spent elsewhere.

"My volunteers work so hard to raise the cash for Oxfam and the Asian disaster victims but it is beginning to feel like a pointless task. They even helped themselves to orange squash and coffee and biscuits while they were here."

*Two people arrested in connection with the latest burglary have been released on police bail pending furether inquiries.