Appeal after thieves target charity shop.

Byline: Jackie Bow

THIEVES have raided a newly-opened charity store.

Burglars targeted Soul Mamas, in Hirwaun, which opened two months ago and buys and sells nearly-new brand names and designer children's clothes, toys and equipment.

Their haul included baby knitwear made by a local grandmother who donates money received to charity.

On Friday night, they broke into a back room and also made off with rails full of clothing, including christening gowns and V Tech computer toys.

Soul Mamas donates its goods to raise funds for the Noah's Ark children's hospital appeal and Grassroots charity, which works with low income families, if they have remained unsold for a long time.

"It has set us back but they are not going to beat us, they are not going to put us out of business. We will keep striving," vowed devastated owner Megan Boughtwood.

Megan, 33, said she believes the security alarm thwarted the thieves from going further into the building.

But she estimated the raid has lost the business pounds 5,000 in stock and other costs - including extra staff time to check the computer system to see which items belonged to which customer.

She has pledged to try to compensate families.

Megan said the break-in came as a bitter blow when she opened for business on Saturday.

"I just couldn't believe it. A tear came down my face, thinking 'it's not even my stuff", she said.

"They are not stealing from a big company. Parents have brought their items here to try to put money back into family funds. For others it provides affordable items.

"We don't keep cash or computer equipment in the store. "Because of the nature of our business we can't just go into the computer system to assess what's missing. We have to go into every single person's account, which will take up extra staff time."

Detective Inspector Phil Camm of South Wales Police appealed for anyone with information to contact Aberdare CID on 01685 724284.