MP Yvette Cooper said she was ‘truly appalled’ by the theft which has pushed Knottingley Foodbank to the brink of closure (Picture: Getty/Google)

A foodbank serving some of the most vulnerable people in society could be forced to close by thieves who robbed it of toiletries and hygiene products to ‘sell in the pub’.

The Knottingley Foodbank was hit last night at about 6pm by a ‘truly appalling’ gang who stole about £500 worth of donations as the knock-on effects of panic-stricken hoarders clearing supermarket shelves during the coronavirus outbreak are felt.

Janet Burns, 70, is the project leader at the Trussell Trust linked charity. She was alerted to the theft by a neighbour who spotted the foodbank’s door was open and four men filling a car with goods.



She said: ‘I am sure it’s about the shortages. It’s stuff they can sell in the pub.’


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The MP has put out an appeal for help to stop the foodbank closing (Picture: Getty )

She added: ‘We had just had a big drop off and it’s dire now, the stock levels, because of the break-in.’

The food bank in Knottingley, West Yorkshire, serves people on Universal Credit or in debt and is seeing a growing number of referrals for large families. Mrs Burns feels this will become an even greater issue as schools close to slow the spread of coronavirus, particularly from those who received free meals.

She said: ‘This is absolutely targeting people most vulnerable to the shortages and it is all from donations. So they are stealing from the public not just the foodbank.

‘We had a PCSO attend when we were last open because we were concerned about our containers so it is very disappointing that our fears have come to fruition.

‘We are closed after this session for the foreseeable future because we now don’t have the stock and also because the age group of volunteers.’

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Knottingley Foodbank could close after it was struck by thieves during the coronavirus outbreak (Picture: Google)

‘We can only respond to dire emergencies now where there is a referral. It was a blow to the stomach,’ she continued.

‘It’s dreadful, some of these families are reliant on us as they are in dire circumstances and this was before coronavirus.

‘And now the schools are closing and the kids aren’t getting school meals.

‘It’s only going to increase the need. People will be very angry.

‘There is no need for panic buying and this theft could be one of the results.’

Foodbanks are facing shortages as growing numbers of people stockpile for themselves (Picture: Getty Images)

The theft gained the attention of MP Yvette Cooper who said she would help gather volunteers in lower-risk brackets to help get the foodbank back on its feet and open.

The MP posted on Twitter: ‘Truly appalled anyone could do this right now.

‘Last night Knottingley Foodbank was broken into, stealing food, sanitary products & basic supplies.

‘We contacted Morrison’s & they’re helping. Appealing for help so they can urgently restock & avoid closure.’



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