Staff determined to recover food bank after supplies ransacked by ‘organised’ thieves

Staff have said they are determined to recover their food bank after ‘organised’ thieves stole thousands of pounds worth of stock on Sunday, leaving hundreds of families without vital supplies.

The perpetrators targeted Southwark Foodbank’s warehouse in Peckham High Street, at around 6.45am, forcing the shutters open and snatching £4,500 worth of food, hygiene products and a charity laptop.

Shahid Mughal, 57, of Thornton Heath, has worked at the foodbank for a year as the interim head of food services.

He said: “I’d never seen anything like it, there was broken glass all over the floor.

“I felt deflated, it felt like someone had broken into my home.”

Mr Mughal said CCTV footage showed three people walk to the back of the warehouse, force open the shutter and break the glass before entering the building.

He said: “They seemed very organised, they knew what they were doing. 

“They were at it for hours, making trips back and forth.”

Mr Mughal said he couldn’t understand why the thieves targeted the foodbank, as it gives away stock to the community for nothing.

The incident has hit the service hard, which had already seen a decline in food donations this year.

Mr Mughal said: “We were already struggling in terms of stock levels.

“They mainly took pasta, rice and coffee, as well as hygiene products, so our food parcels will be missing vital items for the next week or two.”

Southwark Foodbank, which is run by the charity Pecan, supports 80 to 100 households with food parcels each week.

Mr Mughal said the break-in will have a knock-on effect for hundreds of people across Southwark.

Over the past week, staff at the foodbank have got to work spreading the word on social media, urging the public to offer donations to help its recovery.

Pecan has had to spend £600 to fix the damage, including getting a new lock and shutter, and has strengthened security since the incident.

Mr Mughal said: “The community has already been amazing. We have been approached by so many people asking how they can help out.”

Genevieve Osei-Kuffuor, Southwark Foodbank manager, said it was an “awful shock” for staff and volunteers.

But Ms Osei-Kuffuor said: “We’ve been moved by the outpouring of kindness and generosity shown to us in the past few days. 

“The support given will help us ensure that we can support the people in our community who see our service as an essential source.” 

Pecan runs two food banks, Peckham Pantry and Southwark Foodbank, a community space, Together, women’s services and employment support.

Peter Edwards, chief executive at Pecan, said: “It was a hammer blow to morale to discover the theft – but we are determined Pecan will rebuild stronger.

“If you want to be part of the recovery effort, then please make a donation online via www.bankuet.co.uk/southwark.”

A Met spokesman said: “Police were called at 9am on Monday to a report of a burglary at a premises in Mission Place, Peckham.

“Enquiries are ongoing. No arrests have been made.

“At this early stage, we are unable to confirm what has been taken.”

Pictured top: Genevieve Osei-Kuffuor and Shahid Mughal outside Southwark Foodbank (Picture: Pecan)