Thieves have stolen the contents of a collection box for an animal welfare charity.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ fundraising box, located at the old terminal of LF Wade International Airport, was broken into last Wednesday and all the money taken.

A spokeswoman for the SPCA said: “I went to collect the box to empty it and relocate it but unfortunately someone had broken into it and stolen the money. It looks like they used a screwdriver to break open the lock.

“We have asked Skyport [the airport operator] to check the CCTV footage.”

The spokeswoman said she did not know how much money was in the box but previous collections had amounted to as much as $500.

She said: “The money goes into the running of the shelter – we rely almost entirely on donations. It helps us to buy food for the animals, veterinary care and goes towards paying our full-time staff members.

“It is very sad. We are disappointed and shocked – it is very unusual for something like this to happen in Bermuda but it did happen to another charity recently. To steal from a charity is the lowest of the low.

“It is very sad to think that someone was that desperate.”

The collection box was a wooden, hand-painted box in the shape of a Bermuda house. The spokeswoman said that the charity is also calling on anyone who is crafty to help repair the box.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so via the SPCA’s website www.spca.bm

In-person donations can also be made by visiting 32 Valley Rd, Paget, Bermuda.

The charity can also be reached via phone at 236-7333.