Charity 'heartbroken' as food ruined in break-in

A FareShare worker moves palettes at the Middlesbrough hub. She is wearing black leggings and long-sleeved top, as well as a green vest. Her hair is straight and ginger.

Image caption,

FareShare had to close after the theft on Tuesday

ByPeter Harris, North East and Cumbria correspondent and Pamela Bilalova, North East and Cumbria

Published11 minutes ago

A charity distributing food to the most needy said it had been "devastated" after thieves smashed their way into its warehouse, leaving tonnes of supplies ruined.

They broke into the Teesside base of FareShare North East on Tuesday and cut the power to the charity's walk-in freezer and chiller units, meaning perishables like milk and meat had to be thrown out.

The charity said it lost 16 tonnes of food - the equivalent of 7,000 meals.

Middlesbrough hub manager Natasha Flanagan said it was "heartbreaking", adding: "We've got a really great team of volunteers and staff and we try our best every day to get food out to people that need it."

FareShare North East redistributes food donated by supermarkets from its warehouses in Newcastle and Middlesbrough to more than 200 community groups, including food banks.

The charity has been in Middlesbrough since 2023 and moved to its new base on Skippers Lane about four months ago.

Flanagan uncovered the damage when she arrived for work.

She said: "Lockers were ransacked, the staff drawers in the main warehouse were ransacked, and then I've seen the chiller doors were left open and the freezer door which has caused significant damage to food.

"Honestly it's heartbreaking and we do really good things here."