Thieves reached a new low by stealing a hospice charity’s furniture van.

They removed the vehicle tracker and other items in the cab and drove through the locked gates with contents in the back still inside.

The crooks struck the Heart of Kent Hospice’s Hall Road site in Aylesford overnight Tuesday.

The charity said on its Facebook page: “We’ve lost both the van and stock that was due to be delivered to the Tunbridge Wells store.

“Alongside the theft of the vehicle and stock, the damage to the property and the replacement costs of hiring a substitute vehicle have cost us financially.

“Our shops are a vital income stream to the charity and to have any loss of trading or expense is a blow to our services.”

A Kent Police spokesman told KentOnline: “We were called at 8.20am on Wednesday to a report that a Citroen van had been stolen from the car park of a charity based in Hall Road, Aylesford.

“An investigation is ongoing.”

Officers say anyone with information should call them01622 604100, quoting reference 46/28837/24.

The Heart of Kent Hospice is also asking people to call police if they see the van or contact its team on 01622 792200.