BRAZEN thieves have stolen more than two tonnes of clothing destined for vulnerable communities in Africa .

Ross Galbraith, of the charity Glasgow the Caring City, said they are devastated by the thefts.

Crooks believed to have been armed with specialised cutting gear broke into five clothing banks in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, including one at Kingsgate Retail Park, over the bank holiday weekend.

They also added their own padlocks to some clothing banks in order to make return visits.

Police Scotland wants anyone with information regarding the "despicable" crime to come forward.

Just weeks ago the charity, which runs several projects here and abroad, had 15 metal hospital beds destined for South Sudan stolen from a storage unit in Castlemilk.

Ross, the charity's projects and trading company manager, said: "We just couldn't believe that we have been targeted by thieves just weeks apart.

"Our textile banks are a valuable part of our work and we have lost more than two tonnes of clothing which would have been shipped out to Africa.

"It is not something you can put a price on as you cannot weigh up what it would mean to the communities we are trying to help.

"From the way these raids have been carried out you would think these are highly skilled organised criminals.

"They even had the equipment to cut off a plated steel door to access the banks.

"It is not just the loss, but the cost and time taken to fix the damaged clothing banks."

Ross believes thieves deliberately targeted the clothing banks to coincide with the holiday weekend.

He added: "Bank holiday weekends can be a time people have clear-outs and make donations.

"It is almost as if the thieves timed their raid because they thought the banks might be full."

Ross added: "It was bad enough when the hospital beds were stolen, but to come back after the holiday to discover we have been targeted again is a hard blow to take."

First established in May 1999, Glasgow the Caring City has been helping children in crisis across the world and right here in Scotland.

It was originally set up to help people made homeless by the wars raging across the Balkans as well as the thousands arriving in Glasgow.

More than 10 years on the work has helped communities across the world as well as projects close to home.

Despite the latest setback, Ross wants people to continue to support the clothing banks.

He added: "We can't stress enough how important it is to keep donating clothes.

"This has been a setback and the loss of two tonnes of clothing is dreadful.

"These were destined for community projects which we support in Africa.

"Security will be stepped up around our sites and we would urge anyone considering donating to continue to especially after this."

Communities Inspector Mark Leonard, based at East Kilbride police station, described the crime as "despicable" and urged anyone with information to come forward.

He said: "Our inquiries are continuing into the thefts from Glasgow the Caring City clothing banks. We would urge anyone in the East Kilbride area with any information to come forward.

"Other charities may also have been victims and we would like them to get in touch."

Anyone with any information on the theft should contact the police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where you can give information anonymously.

deborah.anderson@ eveningtimes.co.uk