A THIEF ripped apart a costly collection box inside a church hall and snatched cash meant for a homelessness charity.

Downtrodden staff at The Porch Day Centre in East Oxford are appealing for help to replenish funds, after money from a custom-made donation box was stolen from Richard Benson Hall in Cowley Road.

The charity, based in Magdalen Road, had the pricey wooden and perspex tower made after Marks & Spencer in Cowley offered to house it, and a supporter donated funding especially to buy it.

It was a key step in the centre’s £1.5m campaign to move to a more spacious building, and it was hoped customers’ generosity could help.

Guy Scotece, centre manager of The Porch, said: “I was really upset about it.

“Obviously people had donated for a reason and I felt I had let them down.

“It’s stealing from a charity, in a church.

“I thought it was going to be safe there, I was lured into a false sense of security.”

It contained at least £70 in notes, plus a pile of coins.

Repairs to the stand itself are expected to cost hundreds of pounds, as the thief snapped off the front of the box, shattering the plastic.

The theft happened earlier this month, about a week after the box was left there ahead of its trip to M&S.

It was placed in the hall to coincide with a party The Porch team had there, proudly celebrating their Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The charity provides hot meals and a host of services to people who are homeless or living in poor conditions.

It does not have its own beds but uses the hall to house rough sleepers, when temperatures trigger Oxford City Council’s severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP).

SWEP was triggered by the council yesterday, meaning homeless people will be able to sleep in the hall from tonight until at least Sunday.

The venue is part of St Mary and St John Church but has its own separate entrance.

It is usually locked but is hired out for functions, activities and exercise classes.

Mr Scotece said: “Various people use the facilities and obviously someone has seen the opportunity to break in.

“I completely understand whoever has done this was obviously desperate and in need – we are empathetic.”

Jon Fitzpatrick, director of The Porch, said this was no justification to turn to crime.

He said police have been told about the theft but it seemed unlikely the perpetrator will be brought to justice.

The donations box was part of the £1.5m appeal, launched in December and fronted by trustee Sister Frances Dominica, to buy the day centre a new and more suitable base.

To donate, visit theporch.org.uk/the-porch-appeal.