A VOLUNTARY-led day centre that supports elderly people in Dursley has been targeted by thieves for a third time.

The Dursley Day Centre, in May Lane, was broken into overnight between Wednesday, July 4 and Thursday, July 5 and had £10 in cash stolen along with large tins of coffee and bags of tea worth £200.

It is the third time the day centre, which is a charity and runs on donations, has been burgled in the past month.

Volunteers had only just replenished the group’s store cupboard from the previous burglary when the latest attack happened. Also stolen were two boxes of tea donated to the group by a member.

Gill Davis, secretary of the Dursley and District Old People’s Welfare Committee, which runs the centre, said: "We’ve just restocked and they’ve taken it again. We’ve had to have the locksmith in again to secure the back door. We just can’t believe it."

She added: "We have now made the decision we’re not going to restock the store cupboard or go to cash and carry and we’ll just shop locally and not leave any money on site at all.

"We’re getting worried that if there’s a next time they might start causing damage. This is the third time now."

The Gazette reported this week how the Dursley community had rallied around the Dursley Day Centre since the first two burglaries last month. In total the group has received more than £600 in donations.

Mrs Davis said: "We’ve had donations for over £600 that we were so grateful for but now it’s just as well because it will cover all these new costs as well."

The Dursley Day Centre was broken into over the weekend between 12pm on Friday, June 8 and 11.30am on Monday, June 11, overnight between 7pm on Thursday, June 21 and 9am on Friday, June 22, and again between 3pm on Wednesday, July 4 and 9.30am on Thursday, July 5.

Gloucestershire police would like to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area or who has information about the crime.

Witnesses are asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident number 191 of July 5. Information can also be given anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.