Thieves with sledgehammers raid cat rescue centre
The intruders snatched almost £4,000 from Gildersome Cat Protection after it was ransacked at about 12.45am this morning.
But manager Diane Mulcahy said that “brutal” CCTV footage shows the raid took just three minutes – and they also made off with a £2,500 donation left to them from one person’s will.
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Hide AdLuckily no cats were injured, but were left in distress after the incident.
Ms Mulcahy said: “They’ve done thousands of pounds worth of damage to the centre.
“They’ve reversed into the gate and broken the padlock. They’ve then taken a sledgehammer and smashed the door.”
She said the intruders tried and failed to gain access to the room where 30 cats, which are waiting for adoption, are kept.
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Hide AdBut they managed to find the safe which contained thousands of pounds in donations and funds people had raised for the centre.
Ms Mulcahy said: “There was a cheque from a legacy in there for £2,500.
“It’s hard to comprehend why these people want to do this.”
She added: “Why a cat charity? What’s the reason behind wanting to target an animal charity - or any charity?”
She opened the centre three years ago after realising there was a need in Leeds to help cats in need of a new home.
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Hide AdIt is a not-for-profit volunteer-run service. Cats are placed onto a waiting list and when a place becomes available they are put into foster care, and are later adopted.
Appointments with potential owners had to be cancelled today while a clean-up effort was underway.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed that there was a burglary at the Gildersome Lane centre this morning. Its forensics team have attended.
From CCTV footage it appears two youths wearing hoodies carried out the raid after driving up in a large vehicle. It is thought others could have been in the vehicle.
Call police on 101 with any information about the raid.