Kerry Bensemann of 0800 Hungry: "They stole it from the next 200 or 300 households that receive food parcels."

At least 1400 food parcel recipients in Christchurch will miss out on high-end frozen food after thieves cleaned out most of a food bank's freezer.

0800 Hungry's chief executive Kerry Bensemann wants people to help find the thieves so they are "held to account".

After doing the daily banana box run early Thursday morning, he and warehouse superviser Nicky Bensemann found the latch of the food bank's six-metre container freezer broken.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Thieves broke into a freezer and stole food including ham, salmon, prawns, chicken and ice cream.

Inside, a considerable amount of food was stolen.

Ham, salmon, prawns, chicken and ice cream were among food stolen from the Waterman Pl site.

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"We don't often get frozen's in the quantity and quality as the stuff that came in. In this one trip I've probably never had anything like it in three-and-a-half years."

Kerry Bensemann was angry.

"You get angry because they didn't steal it from us they stole it from the next 200 or 300 households that receive food parcels.

"Somebody is going to know something, it's too much to just go home and put it in your freezer. It's got to be offered around or distributed around and we're just hoping somebody with a conscience will let us know. I want them to be brought to account for what they've done.

He said stealing from the poor was "low" and "robbing food out of peoples mouths".

"That's meant for people that are in need, and really they are stealing from the poor - and that's pretty low."

There was no way 0800 Hungry could replace the food, hesaid.

It was the first time food had been stolen from the food bank. Extra security measures were planned.

Police dusted for finger prints on Thursday and were making further inquiries on Friday.

If anyone has "even a hint" of what has happened they should contact Bensemann on 0800 HUNGRY.