Theft of cash from Tain-based Easter Ross lifeline charity CCAST Highland 'a real low point for us'

THIEVES have stolen cash from an Easter Ross charity which runs a lifeline food bank helping some of the most vulnerable people in the community.

Police are now probing the break-in at the CCAST Highland office in Tain which happened over the weekend.

The charity runs the Tain foodbank along with a number of other community support programmes.

The break-in to the St Duthus House premises on the royal burgh's St Duthus Street.

According to CCAST, the thieves got away with money which was donated by members of the community to support the running of the food bank and help local people during the cost of living crisis.

Mandy Nutt, the project manager, said: "It was a real shock to arrive in the morning and see the damage and theft of the money as this is used to help local people in this time of real need."

She said: "The thought that someone targeted the charity is a real low point for us and has caused a disruption to our services whilst the police undertake their criminal investigation.

"CCAST Highland has been supporting vulnerable from this community and surrounding areas for fourteen years now and this is the first break in we have experienced. All the staff and volunteers are shocked and dismayed by this incident especially at this time of year leading up to Christmas."

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Mandy said that if anyone can help with information about this crime they can either contact the police directly or herself.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 9.50am on Monday, November 20, police received a report of a break-in that happened overnight at a premises on St Duthus Street, Tain.

“Enquiries into the incident are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact officers via 101 quoting incident number 0761 of 20 November.”