Essex police have arrested three people as part of its investigation into a large-scale theft of clothes donated to charities.
Officers from Harlow’s local police team made the arrests after finding sacks of clothes stacked to the ceiling, four or more deep in places, at an industrial unit in Purfleet.
They also found shoes, toys and prams, which the police believed were stolen from charity donation bins.
The police said they believed that some of the goods were destined to be sold abroad.
Officers also located a sum of cash estimated to be £38,000, washing machines, industrial scales, conveyor belts, cages and a forklift.
Police arrested a 48-year-old woman on suspicion of money laundering and two men, aged 38 and 31, on suspicion of going equipped to steal.
All three have been bailed until 28 June while the police enquiries continue.
Police encouraged members of the public to continue to donate clothes and items of need to charities but to report anything suspicious.
‘Complex’ type of theft
Police constable Jacob George said: “This type of theft is complex.
“Our communities expect that when they make a donation, it reaches the people it was intended for, that it will be used for good and will be given to some of the most deserving people in society.”
Robin Osterley, chief executive of Charity Retail Association, told Civil Society: “As the police have said, the public have a right to expect that their generous donations to charity end up in the right hands.
“It's deplorable that these criminals appear to have deprived good causes of a significant amount of income for their own selfish gain.”
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