CRUEL thieves who raided a charity that supports people with disabilities have left volunteers ‘heartbroken’.

Phoenix Enterprises, in Groundwell Industrial Estate, was targeted in the early hours of Tuesday morning (MAY 25).

Heartless burglars forced their way into the warehouse, and smashed open cupboards and drawers.

They ransacked the charity’s computer room, stealing donated iPads, iPhones, Toshiba, Macbook and Acer laptops, a printer, two Bauer TVs along with £345 in cash.

The money was to be used to pay for bus passes and a summer trip to Weston for the 34 services users, leaving the future of the trip in doubt.

Darts were also thrown into a wall and yellow powder paint trekked through the warehouse.

Wiltshire Police are investigating.

Ann Leach, production manager said she was horrified when she walked in and saw the damage.

“I felt physically sick when I walked in, all we could see was yellow footprints everywhere, it makes me feel violated that someone could come into our space and rifle through everything.”

Emma Rees, chair of the charity said:

“I feel heartbroken that someone could do this to us as a charity, it’s just absolutely devastating to be targeted especially when we have just got back on our feet again.

“We haven’t been able to run as normal, to go through cupboards that provide people with breakfast and lunch that can’t afford to eat is disgusting.”

Phoenix supports people recovering from mental health problems such as depression and bipolar as well as autism, Aspergers and people with learning or physical disabilities and those struggling to find jobs.

The charity works towards employment by giving service users the opportunity to learn new skills and forge new careers.

Despite the break-in service users have pulled together and vowed they won’t be broken by the setback.

“We’re a family and they are trying to break up a family but we won’t let that happen,” said Keith Oakey from Pinehurst.

Kev Brooks from Moredon added: “We thought everything was alright when we moved in here and to have people nick stuff is absolutely vile.”

Phoenix Enterprises battled back from the brink of closure when they lost their premises in West Swindon. Logistics company Indipac stepped and gave them space in the warehouse which they moved into in January.

“I am incredibly proud of our Service Users and our staff,” said Emma.

“They came into devastation yesterday, I offered for them all to go home but each and every one of them insisted on staying to help. Their words to me were, we're a family and when someone does something like this we all stick together and muck in and support each other, this is how much Phoenix means to those that come to us.

"We want to warn other charities of the danger."

A Wiltshire Police Spokesman said:

“We were called at 6.50am to the break-in. We are still investigating.

“Anyone with information should call police on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously if preferred.”

What was stolen:

•1 Key cabinet (smashed open to get the keys)

•1 Petty Cash tin

•1 Social Fund cash tin

•2 Upright, 4 drawer filing cabinets damaged beyond repair

•Approx £80.00 cash from the Social Fund cash tin

•£250 from the Petty cash tin.

•£15.00 from the staff coffee/biscuits fund tin

•3 new ACER All In One Desktop Computers from the computer room

•3 wireless Keyboards

•2 mouse

•3 New iPad Mini's, 2 were still boxed and sealed, third was boxed but had been opened and used a couple of times, and 2 secondhand older generation larger iPads

•1 HP Printer

•1 Mac Book laptop (donated member of the public in January)

•1 Toshiba Satellite laptop (recently donated)

•2 pay as you go work mobile phones.

•2 Bauer TV's (recently donated by Indipac)