HOW could anyone break into a pub and steal a bucket overflowing with cash donated to the tsunami disaster appeal?

How could anyone use the catastrophe to swindle money out of the public by setting up bogus charity websites?

Police are appealing for information on who might have been responsible for stealing the donations from the King Johns Tavern in Hartlepool.

It is our fervent hope that those responsible for that theft - and those involved in Internet fraud - are caught swiftly, publicly shamed, and given the strongest punishment possible under the law.

It defies belief that people can be so heartless, but it is important to remember that those capable of such despicable acts are in the tiny minority.

Goodness has clearly outweighed evil in the aftermath of the disaster. The appeal for aid has brought the world together in a way we haven't seen before.

Today, tens of millions of people across Europe will stage a three-minute silence from noon as a mark of respect for the 150,000 victims of the tsunami.

The scale of the disaster makes such a symbolic gesture of remembrance entirely appropriate. But, as important as it is to observe the silence, it is far more important to make a donation if you haven't already done so.

Thoughtful reflection on the suffering which has taken place, and how lucky we are to have our lives intact, is very worthwhile.

It is money which will make a meaningful difference to the devastated people of Asia.

Please continue to give generously.