The owner of a fish and chip shop says he felt sickened after teenagers broke into his shop and stole RNLI charity boxes.

CCTV captured the break-in at Newington Fish Bar in Newington Road, Ramsgate, in the early hours of Friday morning, which saw burglars escape with two charity pots estimated to contain between £130 and £150.

Shop owner Nigel Derrett believes the culprits were aged around 17-18 years old, and says CCTV showed them coming through the back gateway and breaking into a door at the back of the restaurant.

"They force the door open while one stays at the back looking around," said Mr Derrett, describing the footage. "He took his right hand glove off and then touched the window and the dustbin, so he's putting fingerprints everywhere.

"They ran through the restaurant to the till area and rummaged through the cupboards.

"The main alarm system was going off and there are lights on the cameras that go off when they pick something up.

"Two run out but the third one spots a full lifeboat charity pot. He takes that and a second charity pot on the counter - that one was chained so at first he dropped it but then he ripped it off the counter."

Mr Derrett said a neighbour called police during the break-in, and officers later contacted Mr Derrett.
"When the police first phoned me I felt a bit sick," he added. "You think someone's broken into your shop and you feel a bit violated.

"The thing that upset myself and the staff the most was that they took charity money - they have no comprehension what that money means to the lifeboat people. I find that so distasteful.

"We think of ourselves as a shop that supports the community - back at half term we gave children free sausage and chips, and we gave away 1250 free meals. We like to help the community.

"Hopefully the police will get them and sort them out before their criminal career continues."

A Facebook post from Newington Fish Bar about the incident brought an outpouring of support, with many condemning the break-in and even suggesting the teenagers should be made to do community work with the RNLI.

Kent Police confirmed officers were alerted to the burglary at 1.25am on Friday.

A spokesman said: "Officers attended and carried out a thorough search of the local area.

"No arrests were made and enquiries into the incident are ongoing."