Teen arrested over food bank burglary

Curtis Lancaster
BBC News
Hart South Police The inside of Hart Foodbank after the break-in. There is pasta all over the floor, packets, crates and pallets are in disarray, a goods trolley has been left in the middle of the space.Hart South Police
A 14-year-old boy from Church Crookham was arrested on suspicion of burglary

A teenage boy has been arrested after a food bank was broken into and vandalised.

Police received reports that Hart Foodbank in Fleet - which provides help for people in Hampshire and Berkshire - had been broken into between 20:15 BST and 20:45 on 25 May.

On Thursday officers arrested a 14-year-old boy from the nearby village of Church Crookham on suspicion of burglary in relation to this incident and another break-in at the same site on the afternoon of Wednesday 5 March.

He has now been released on bail until 5 September.

Hart South Police A sink has been filled with spaghetti. There is water all over the floor. A few tubes of what appears to be hair products are left by the sink.Hart South Police
Food had been emptied across the site

The force reported that two windows had been smashed and the building had been vandalised.

It added that food had been emptied across the premises and placed in sinks with the taps running, causing water to overflow.

Sgt Geoff Hill, from the Hart neighbourhood policing team, described it as "a disgusting attack on a charity that is just trying to help people in the community".

After the most recent incident the team at the food bank said it had been "completely overwhelmed with the love and support" from the community.

Police have renewed an appeal for anyone with information to get in contact.