Caught on camera – thieves at the RPSB

The images released by Bedfordshre Police show two masked men, though to have been part of a larger gang, pictured during the robbery, which took place at the charity’s headquarters in Potton Road, Sandy in the early hours of Saturday morning (September 15).

It is believed that three or four men arrived in a silver car and forced their way into the building at around 1.35am.

But they were disturbed by the alarm sounding.

Mark Brandon, Visitor and Publicity manager at The Lodge reserve said: “The thieves targeted the shop and managed to break into the building, setting off the alarm and alerting on-site security.

“Despite police arriving promptly, the thieves had already got away, stealing only a large donation container shaped as a robin. This was kindly handed back to the police by a person who found it discarded nearby”.

He added: “Luckily, the donation robin had been emptied recently, so the thieves escaped with a small amount of money.

“Even so, all of the funds are given to us as a charity by our visitors, which are used in our mission to save nature”.

Despite wearing masks across their faces, PC Alex Barr, who is investigating the robbery, is keen to hear from anyone who may recognise the offenders or from anyone who was in the area at the time of the burglary and may have seen the silver vehicle either before or after the offence.

If you have information relating to any of this burglaries, please contact PC Barr at Bedfordshire Police, in confidence, on the non-emergency number 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

The RSPB would like to thank the police for their prompt service and to the person who found and handed back the donation robin.