Charity broken into three times in two weeks
Sunderland MindA charity has been set back by thousands of pounds after a spate of burglaries caused "phenomenal" damage.
Sunderland Mind, in the city's Church Street East, was broken into three times between 25 April and 9 May, with sweets, a mobile phone and an air fryer taken from the premises.
Leigh Ann Thomson, the charity's operational development manager, said staff were left shaken up and the amount of damage was "phenomenal".
Northumbria Police asked anyone with information about the burglaries to get in touch.
The first incident happened on 25 April. Ms Thomson said the building was "ransacked", with thieves returning just three days later on 28 April and smashing a window.
More doors and windows were smashed in the final incident on 9 May, when a mobile phone was stolen.
"I think the impact is just how people felt coming back into the building," Ms Thomson said.
Sunderland Mind"This is their safe place and some people who come here are vulnerable.
"It's the disruption and the damage it's done and financially it's going to set us back a little bit."
The charity had to close for a day after the first break-in, but has been operating ever since, with Ms Thomson praising the community for their support.
The damage is expected to cost more than £5,000, with additional security measures being put in place in the aftermath.
Sunderland Mind has been based at the building in Hendon for eight years and there had been no similar incidents in the past.
"They took a lot of sweets and the damage was just phenomenal that they managed to do in a couple of minutes," Ms Thomson added.