Thief in panda mask targets boy's Redditch food bank

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Masked theifImage source, Claire
Image caption,

CCTV recorded an intruder in a panda mask

A 12-year-old boy who set up several food banks across his town has had two of the sites broken into - with CCTV recording an intruder in a panda mask.

Isaac from Redditch in Worcestershire started a food bank from his driveway during lockdown but after seeing the amount of people in need, organised three more points to store donations.

Food was taken from a shed at his home, with another of the sites damaged.

"Isaac was absolutely devastated... he cried and he cried," his mum said.

Claire-Louise Chapman explained that prior to the break-ins, her son had for his birthday asked for Lego but also a van full of food to support his offer.

She said that Isaac had sent out about 4,000 food parcels this year.

The mask-wearing intruder was recorded by CCTV at the family's home.

"Officers attended the property to find food items had been taken," confirmed the West Mercia force, appealing for witnesses.

Image source, Claire-Louise Chapman
Image caption,

Isaac started the first food bank from his driveway during lockdown

The events of 2 October marked the second time his home storage site had been targeted and food stolen from there.

"I'm really not sure [why] - I wish I knew the answer to that so we could stop it," Ms Chapman said.

A planned fifth site in the town was being put on hold so the family could afford to buy an alarm system, she explained.

Image source, Claire-Louise Chapman
Image caption,

A second storage site was also targeted

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