"DESPICABLE" thieves are targeting charity shops, stealing piles of goods left outside Kidderminster premises and climbing into back yards to go through bags.

It is believed they then turn their hauls into cash by selling items at car boot sales.

Three shops in the town centre have reported ongoing problems which are depriving them of vital money needed to help people suffering from life-threatening medical conditions and wasting valuable staff time. Kemp Hospice trading company manager Alison Hinton outside the charity's Oxford Street store which has been hit by thieves.

Lillian Griffiths, manageress at the Sue Ryder Foundation shop in Coventry Street, said those responsible must have transport to remove items as between 15 and 20 bags of donated goods had been stolen from outside her shop in one snatch this month.

In another incident, thieves had removed several bags left outside the shop on a Sunday before taking them into the back yard to go through them, scattering clothes "all over the place".

She said she had now put a notice in the shop window asking people donating goods not to leave them outside when it was closed.

Mrs Griffiths said: "I'm really angry. It's not on. All the money we raise goes to help people who are terminally ill."

Alison Hinton, trading company manager for Kemp Hospice, described those responsible as "despicable".

Mrs Hinton, who manages shops in Kidderminster, Bewdley and Stourport, said the Kidderminster premises had been targeted over the last six weeks.

She said bags and storage bins at the rear of the store in Oxford Street were regularly tipped over and the contents scattered.

"Books, toys and bric-a-brac of all sorts and quality were left out in the rain, got soaking wet and were good for nothing," she added.

Mrs Hinton, who said she had reported a number of incidents to the police, added she believed thieves were selling off the stolen items at car boot sales.

The shop has also been the target of two attempted break-ins in the last three weeks, police confirmed.

Carol Iliffe, assistant manager for the British Heart Foundation in Worcester Street, said she had been forced to bring storage bins into the shop three months ago because staff were fed up with them being tipped over and rummaged through.

She said: "It's a nightmare having to clean up. They go through bags and bins and throw everything all over the place. We have to spend half an hour tidying up when we could be doing something else."

A police spokeswoman said: "All thefts are unacceptable but it is particularly despicable some people sink so low as to rob items which have been donated to help those in need."