A LIFEBOAT boss is appealing to the community to report thieves who stole the stock from a charity souvenir shop.

Thieves smashed their way into Redcar Lifeboat station and stole every item on sale, including key rings, sweatshirts, Christmas cards and calendars.

The value of items stolen plus repairs to the damage, brings the cost of the break-in to £1,000.

Dave Cammish, deputy launching authority for the RNLI in Redcar, said: "They have just about grabbed everything they could grab hold of. But every single item has the RNLI logo, or, in the case of the sweatshirts, the RNLI flag and the words Redcar Lifeboat embroidered on the front.

"I firmly believe the vast majority of people know what the RNLI does and that if they are offered any of these items for sale they will tell the police, which I urge them to do.''

Mr Cammish, a former senior police officer, said: "No one is authorised to sell any of these goods from street to street to the public or at the door. They can only be sold from authorised outlets.''

The thieves broke into the boat house overnight Thursday or in the early hours yesterday, by smashing an armoured glass panel.

Mr Cammish said: "It was an absolutely despicable act but when you get little old ladies knocked down for the contents of their handbags, it seems everyone is fair game.

"I am sure whoever did this gave no regard to the fact we are a charity and rescue service. But we won't let this be a setback.

"It is disappointing because of the time the volunteers put in, manning the shop - all to see an instant loss of £1,000.

"It will take some making up, but we will just clean up and move on.''

The souvenir stock room is in another building and the shop's shelves were replenished yesterday.