A MUSSELBURGH resident was “totally shocked” when he saw a woman make off with two bags of donations which had been left at a town charity shop.

Jamie Bruce was heading to the Frying Scotsman fish and chip shop on North High Street at about 6.15pm last Wednesday when the incident happened.

Bags of goods had been left outside the nearby DEBRA outlet – a national charity that supports individuals and families affected by epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a potentially fatal skin condition that causes constant pain due to unstoppable internal and external blistering.

He said: “To my horror, there was a woman going through bags outside the charity shop.

“I think this is an absolute disgrace. People put stuff to charity shops for the charities to sell goods so the charities can get help.”

Mr Bruce asked the woman what she was doing and he said she replied: “I need it”.

He said that she dragged two black bags full of goods down the street because they were so heavy.

He had heard that such goods could be sold on online auction site eBay.

Mr Bruce said: “I just want to make local people and the shops aware of what is happening. Volunteers give their free time to work in these charity shops and other people are lifting the donations.

“Toys, for example, could be bought for underprivileged children. The charity needs the money and people give donations in good faith. In my eyes, it’s shoplifting.”

Mr Bruce suggested that signs could be put up in the shops warning the public not to leave donations of goods outside overnight.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “This is a crime of theft.

“The woman who took the items is not the intended recipient and it is depriving the charity shop of possible income.”

A spokesperson for DEBRA said: “The charity has many shops across the UK and relies on donations from the general public.

“Grateful for all donations received, items are requested to be handed into the shops directly and not left outside when the shop is closed.

“The DEBRA shop in Musselburgh has a poster displayed in the window asking for donations not to be left outside overnight.”

Yvonne Cassidy, manager at Musselburgh Citizen’s Advice Bureau, added: “These are desperate times and if someone is suffering hardship or need they should come in and see us.

“There are a lot of charities and other organisations out there which are able to provide some assistance.”