A CHARITY shop manager in Porthmadog has been left devastated after a brazen thief stole her bag, containing personal and sentimental items, from her work locker.

And the operator of a nearby café is also warning businesses to be on their guard after a tip box was stolen from the counter.

Stella Parker, who runs Barnardo’s charity shop on Porthmadog High Street, was targeted by the thief on Wednesday, 22 June, sometime between noon and 12.30pm.

The thief saw an opportunity to steal her handbag which contained a passport, purse, keys and a sentimental gift from a relative, after the charity worker had left her locker key on the side of the counter during a lunchtime rush in the shop.

Stella, who has been at Barnardo’s in the town for four years, said she feels violated after the incident.

She said: “I had come back from the bank and went straight to put my bag in my locker at the back of the shop and rushed back in to help as it was very busy in the shop and we only had one volunteer working.

“I put the key on the side, which I don’t normally do, and then 20 minutes later I noticed my locker door was open with the key in the lock but my bag was gone.

“I’m completely devastated; my whole life was in that bag, I had my passport, keys, driving licence, bank cards, mobile phone.

"I even had a lucky elephant key-ring which was given to me by a relative who passed away in May which I will now never get back. There were also pictures of my grandchildren in there.

“I have had to change all my locks on my house as my driving licence had my address on.”

Just days later, Porthmadog café Jessie’s Quality Sandwiches & Coffee House was also targeted by a thief who stole the tip box.

See the full story in this week’s Arfon/Dwyfor edition of the Cambrian News