"Our stocks are so depleted now that we can't carry on. Packages are lifelines for those with severe health conditions who have been told not to go outside – even to shop – during pandemicCrucial food packages left for the country’s most vulnerable people are being stolen from their doorsteps, police have revealed.Thieves are swiping the lifeline parcels after they are placed outside the homes of those told not to leave the house – even to shop – because they are so at risk from Packages – which include pasta, cereals, tinned foods and teabags – are being sent out to many of the 1.5 million people told they are most at risk from Covid-19 and should not leave the house under any circumstance.Recipients – described as the shielded – include organ transplantees, cancer patients, people with severe lung conditions, those with weakened immune systems and pregnant women with heart conditions.Chief Superintendent Thom McLoughlin, of Cleveland Police, which covers Middlesborough, Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees, described the thefts as “heartless”.In a statement released by the force, he added: “In itself this is appalling but the concern is that ultimately this may force those shielding to venture out to source food supplies putting themselves or family members at additional risk.“Every day our officers on the streets see evidence of communities coming together in unity against Covid-19, every Thursday we hear the clapping for our amazing NHS and carers, and we see story after story on social media of heroism and sacrifice.“We will not let the actions of a few heartless criminals tarnish the work of so many and we will make every effort to bring them to justice.”Metropolitan Police officers were notified of a woman who had no friends or family nearby and so had ordered groceries online.However, the 84-year-old became ”imprisoned in her own home” in Feltham, south London, after accidentally locking herself inside “with no way of leaving”, officers said.While she was trapped, a “callous individual took advantage of the situation” and stole the food delivery from her front doorstep, the Met said in a Facebook post.When officers arrived at her home they found the victim “had literally no food in” her fridge and “had resorted to eating out of the rubbish bin to survive”.Enter your email to follow new comments on this article.Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate?Want to discuss real-world problems, be involved in the most engaging discussions and hear from the journalists?

Independent Premium. There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts Thieves … Coronavirus: Thieves stealing food parcels left on doorsteps of country’s most vulnerable peopleEmail already exists.

Ourexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. "If someone has done this in order to make profit from other people's desperation that is a shocking and shameful crime.The founder of a centre in Lincoln called The Sincil Foodbank has spoken out about supermarket shoppers stealing from donation points.Craig Rouse said: "We've been notified by Tesco that people have been stealing food from our in-store collection baskets.

There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. {{#sender.isSelf}} The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to We'd had a massive donation of toiletries and female products on Tuesday. Heartless thieves have stolen the groceries of a couple who self-isolated while they waited for test results to reveal if they had coronavirus.

Start your Independent Premium subscription today.Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate?Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. {{#sender.isSelf}} Knottingley Foodbank in West Yorkshire has had to close after thugs broke into the centre and stole essential supplies such as toilet rolls from inside the containerGet our daily coronavirus email newsletter with all the news you need to know direct to your inbox A foodbank has been forced to shut down after callous thieves broke in and stole £500 worth of supplies amid Raiders gained entry to a storage container in West Yorkshire and made off with essentials including sanitary towels and toilet rolls.Meanwhile a number of foodbanks around the country have reported people stealing from supermarket donation points.One volunteer pleaded for people to stop "stealing food from vulnerable people's mouths" and MP Yvette Cooper described the thefts as "appalling".The shocking scenes come as more and more people need to access to foodbanks, at a time when donations are expected to drop.Janet Burns said the centre she manages, Knottingley Foodbank, was robbed at 6pm on Wednesday.Police have confirmed they are investigating the crime, thought to be carried out by four men, and are looking at CCTV from the area.Janet said: "I got a phone call at home from one of the neighbours that overlooks our containers.

real-world solutions, and more. to your comment. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post "I want to encourage people to stay calm, so that we can prevent this kind of thing from happening.

Authorities have stolen and wasted food donated to a Chinese city struggling under the pressure of a Coronavirus lockdown in China’s Hubei Province, The Epoch Times reported Tuesday. "Local MP Yvette Cooper has called on the community to do their bit to support the centre as it recover from the theft.She has contacted local supermarkets to ask them to lift their purchase limits to allow the foodbank to restock.Ms Cooper said: "It is truly appalling that someone could do this - at a time when families need help more than ever - with children not going to school and many people unable to work. try again, the name must be unique The most insightful comments on all subjects There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts "This is a time when we should be pulling together and helping each other. try again, the name must be uniquePlease try again, the name must be unique {{#replies}} will be published daily in dedicated articles.

Please You can unsubscribe at any time.Janet said they had to turn away people who were queueing at the foodbank doorJanet manages, Knottingley Foodbank in West YorkshireJanet said: "Our stocks are so depleted now that we can't carry on" It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. Crucial food packages left for the country’s most vulnerable people are being stolen from their doorsteps, police have revealed. Please "We've been so busy this afternoon, we've had people queuing at the door and we're just having to turn them away. "The Sincil Foodbank hands out up to a tonne of food per week to hundreds of people in need.The Somer Valley Food Bank in Somerset has had to close two of its centres as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.Coordinator Paul Woodward said donations have gone down and that volunteers, many of whom are over 70, cannot work.Ms Cooper said: "At this hugely difficult and disruptive time for our country, we need to pull together and support each other more than ever. A serial thief with a criminal record to "weigh rather than read" is being spared a return to jail for stealing food because of the Covid-19 crisis, a judge ruled today.