This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-42521947

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice's letter to Christmas thief Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice's letter to Christmas thief
(about 3 hours later)
A charity has written an open letter to a thief who stole a donation box from one of its hospices on Christmas Day.A charity has written an open letter to a thief who stole a donation box from one of its hospices on Christmas Day.
It was taken from the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough.It was taken from the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough.
Hospice director Allison Mann and the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice team posted the open letter on its website.Hospice director Allison Mann and the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice team posted the open letter on its website.
It says the money taken was "given to us so we can provide care and support to people who are dying from conditions like cancer, heart failure or lung disease". It said the money taken was "given to us so we can provide care and support to people who are dying from conditions like cancer, heart failure or lung disease".
"The box you stole contained money which the families and friends of patients had generously donated to say thank you for the care their loved ones received; money which was meant to help fund the care we give to patients at the most difficult time of their lives," says the letter. It continued: "The box you stole contained money which the families and friends of patients had generously donated to say thank you for the care their loved ones received; money which was meant to help fund the care we give to patients at the most difficult time of their lives."
The charity, which does not know how much money was taken, adds that the hospice doors were unlocked at 05:30 GMT on Christmas Day so "the family of a patient who had just died could come in and say their final goodbyes". The charity, which does not know how much money was taken, said the hospice doors were unlocked at 05:30 GMT on Christmas Day so "the family of a patient who had just died could come in and say their final goodbyes".
"We just wanted to let you know all this," the letter continues. "It saddens us that you felt driven to do what you did. But thankfully because of the generosity of local people, groups and businesses we'll still be here to provide care for people when they need it. "We just wanted to let you know all this," the letter added.
"It saddens us that you felt driven to do what you did. But thankfully because of the generosity of local people, groups and businesses we'll still be here to provide care for people when they need it.
"Obviously we hope you never need us but we'll be here for you too if you do.""Obviously we hope you never need us but we'll be here for you too if you do."
Insp Terry Furlong, of Cambridgeshire Police, said: "Whoever has done this is beyond contempt and [we] will do everything [we] can to track down the thief."
Anyone with information should contact the force,