A charity worker from Forfar who has devoted years of her life to fundraising is ready to walk away from it all after two men tried to break into her shop.
Angus Threeway charity shop operator Wilma Whyte said that is the situation she has been left in this week after a passer-by spotted two ”undesirable” men trying to force their way into the back door of the Pend shop on Tuesday morning.
Wilma said: ”A man that I know came into the shop on Tuesday around 9am and said he had chased two guys away from the back door earlier in the morning.
”Nothing like that has happened before really but we have had to watch these types of people when they have come into the shop before.
“Some of them have been nice buying T-shirts and things and have been pleasant. However, yesterday afternoon I went into the back of the shop and when I came back out there were five or six of them at the front window. I feel intimidated by them.”
Wilma (53) has worked tirelessly in the community since the mid-90s , raising tens of thousands of pounds through Angus Threeway Fundraisers, which donates funds to Angus Cancer Care, Multiple Sclerosis and Childlink.
She recently set up the latest charity shop in the centre of the town with a number of volunteers, many elderly, who give what time they have to help with the day-to-day running and customer service of the store.
However, after having to put up signs declaring that no cash is stored in the shop and replace the padlock on the back door, Wilma said she is considering closing the shop unless the authorities do something.
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”You don’t know what’s going to happen when they come to the shop,” Wilma added. ”You can see some of the customers are even saying something about them when they’re outside. I feel embarrassed, as if I’m responsible.
”I’ve been fundraising since the 90s but I don’t think I’ll be doing another shop. This problem seems to be worldwide, not just here. I just wonder what’s going to happen next.”
Wilma has reported the incident to the police and wants to see action taken before something else happens.
She added: ”I want them kept off the centre of the town. Yesterday morning they were all sitting at the seats across from the shop, just falling about. They shouldn’t be getting left to just sit there and I’ve told the police that.
”I don’t think I’ll be opening up another shop. It’s not worth the hassle. I feel manipulated.
”I have given up a lot of hours and valuable time. We work in there for no money and the way the country is there’s not much money anyway.
”I feel threatened, and I’m no fool but I don’t want to get involved in an altercation because they could have anything. It’s about time the Government turned the coin on them and realised that people are terrified.
”The whole thing has been quite upsetting. The thought of someone trying to get into the shop and the damage that they would do is scary.
”I love the shop because it gives me something to look after. I’m a people person and I like to help people but now the coin’s turned and it’s a bit of a joke.”
A spokesman for Tayside Police confirmed the alleged incident at the Angus Threeway is under investigation and added: ”Tayside Police would welcome any information from anyone in the area at the time.”