A sixth charity collection box has been stolen on Sheppey.

The theft from the League of Friends’ shop at Sheppey Community Hospital in Plover Road, Minster, has been revealed by the organisation’s secretary Margaret Blee.

She said: “I couldn’t believe it. It was due to be emptied. The last time it was emptied there was £32. Donations are very hard to obtain in the present climate.

“This wasn’t a box you could just pick up off the counter, it was a specially made wooden box which was screwed to the front of the counter.

“This was our only collection box as we have had to give up having our boxes in shops due to them being stolen as well in the past.”

In January, a Help for Heroes’ charity box was taken from Queenborough Social Club, in North Road.

The other thefts were an RSPCA tin from Clothing Exchange in Sheerness last May; a collection box from Holy Trinity Church in Queenborough in June; a box for charity Ribbons from a kiosk in Sheerness in October; and raffle money from the Co-op Sports and Social Club in Sheerness in November.

Mrs Blee, of Scocles Road, Minster, has been involved in hospital campaigning and fundraising since the 1970s, and in that time thousands of pounds has been raised for equipment.

She added: “This person or their family may require a piece of medical equipment, which the NHS could not provide but the League could have done if the money was there.

“We’re not like other bigger charities – every penny we get goes to the hospital for the benefit of people who use it.”

Police have not yet linked the hospital theft to the other five incidents.

Island Neighbourhood Policing team sergeant Stefan Martin said: “Thieves who target charity boxes are disgraceful.

"These donations have been made selflessly by others and these petty criminals are treating these acts of kindness with contempt.”

The League of Friends is also looking for new volunteers. Anyone interested should contact Mrs Blee on 01795 877837.