Pub thieves steal cancer cash funds

Published on Tuesday 9 February 2010 09:07

POLICE are hunting callous thieves who dismantled a pub's burglar alarm before making off with a cancer charity collection.

The audacious burglars broke into the White Horse Inn on the Royal Mile by first using a ladder to climb the front of the building and disconnect the alarm.

After forcing open a fire exit, they then targeted a collection box containing about 450 which was due to be handed over to Maggie's Centre at the Western General, which supports cancer victims and their families, later this week.

The suspects, who went on to steal three boxes of spirits and the rest of the night's takings, also cut the bar's phone lines in case they were connected to the alarm system.

Landlord Rab Will blasted the thieves for taking the charity cash.

He said: "It's terrible that they took the charity money, which was going to Maggie's Centre.

"The police believe the thieves knew what they were doing because of the way they disconnected the alarm system.

"They must have made a lot of noise breaking open the rear door because it was torn off its hinges."

Mr Will and his wife, Kathleen, both 61, are set to retire in the next few months after running the pub for 30 years.

He added: "I'm hoping someone may have seen them on the ladder. They must have taken their time inside because it was a professional job."

Mr Will only discovered the break-in, which was carried out between 1am and 10am on Sunday, after arriving to open up.

Three cases of spirits, including Famous Grouse whisky and Smirnoff vodka worth 500, were stolen with 500 of takings.

The thieves forced open storage cupboards, one of which contained the cash box marked "Charity Fund – Maggie's Centre".

Frank Galbraith, 50, often works part-time behind the bar. He said: "Rab and Kath were pretty devastated as this has come just before they retire after 30 years.

"The charity money was raised from a raffle, scratch cards, donations and various other events. There's always fundraisers going on at the pub and we usually wait till it gets to around 500 before we present it to the charity."

A police spokeswoman said: "We would appeal for anyone who was in the area at the time, and who perhaps saw something suspicious, to contact police."