Charity shops lose €10m as gangs steal clothes donations

CHARITY shops have lost an estimated €10 million in the last two years because foreign crime gangs are stealing donations of clothes that householders leave outside their doors.

Paul Hughes, spokesman for the Irish Charity Shops’ Association, said the dent in their income due to thefts — perpetrated mainly by Eastern European and African-based gangs — was seriously affecting their ability to help people who were genuinely in need.

Among the 16 charities affected are the Irish Cancer Society, Barnardos, Age Action, Enable Ireland, Threshold, St Vincent de Paul, the Simon Community and MS Ireland.