Opticians fundraise after charity box theft

George Thorpe
BBC News, South West
iSightCornwall Left to right: iBuntu owner Sandhya Dharumpal, iSightCornwall team member Jodi Strick and iBuntu dispensing optician Peter Forsythe inside Truro's iBuntu store. Sandhya and Peter are both holding boxes of cupcakes. Jodi is holding a charity collection tin.iSightCornwall
L-R: iBuntu owner Sandhya Dharumpal, iSightCornwall team member Jodi Strick and iBuntu dispensing optician Peter Forsythe

An opticians' shop has raised more than £1,600 for charity after having a collection box and other items stolen by a burglar.

Glasses, electronics and a collection tin for sight loss charity iSightCornwall were stolen when iBuntu's store in Truro was broken into in the early hours of 2 February.

The shop decided to sell designer sunglasses that had been damaged in the raid at a discounted place, and donate the proceeds to iSightCornwall during a week-long fundraising drive.

Its owner said the sales of the sunglasses and extra donations from customers helped them raise £1,630.

'Generosity'

Sandhya Dharumpal, iBuntu's owner, said it was great to be able to raise so much money and thanked everyone who helped.

"We are very much a part of the Truro community and all the horror that an event like a burglary can bring was completely outweighed by the generosity and speed to come to our aid that we witnessed," she said.

"It was thanks to this outpouring of support that we wanted to give something back."

Devon and Cornwall Police said the stolen items were sunglasses, cash, an iPad, an iPhone and other items to the value of £9,512.

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