CHARITY shopstaff havewarned elderly people to be on the look-out after a book filled with the names and addresses of pensioners was stolen last Friday.

Volunteers at the YMCA in Orpington High Street have made a desperate appeal to trace the book and are worried that someone will use it to prey on vulnerable residents.

The voluntary organisation was inundated with calls from kind-hearted locals after its appeal for donations of furniture and bric-a-brac was advertised in the News Shopper.

Staff logged donations in a book listing the names, addresses and telephone numbers of generous callers alongside their donated items.

Shop manager Patricia Keenan is concerned that bogus drivers will pick up the donations from scores of unsuspecting residents.

She said: "I am really upset that someone would stoop to that level in a charity shop of all places.

"We are extremely worried that somebody is going to use the book to befriend people, the majority of them elderly, and then rob them.

"If anybody is approached by someone claiming to be one of our pick-up drivers they should make sure they ask for ID."

The small, blue exercise book had a yellow sticker attached with the words "Pick-ups" written in thick black letters and was stolen between noon and 1pm when the shop was extremely busy.

Mrs Keenan is keen to hear from people who had made donations before noon on Friday lunchtime so that she can warn them about the dangers and arrange a time to pick up the donated goods.

If you have any information, contact Patricia Keenan on 01689 877743.

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