Chandler's Ford theatre £4,000 worse off after break-in

More than £2,200 in cash and goods were stolen from Centrestage Productions Youth Theatre, including money from show fees, the till system and alcohol from the bar.

Thieves also caused £2,000 worth of damage after rummaging through the site on Station Lane in Chandler's Ford.

Chairman Mike Mullen, 37, said: “I got a call on Sunday morning, and I just jumped in my car.

“I was quite angry and upset that this had happened. This is pretty much my second home that I have built and I have built from scratch. We have never had any issues.

“All I could think about is 'why us? Why now?' What have we done to deserve this?'

"All we do is try to do good for the community. There was no reason for this to happen.”

Overnight between Saturday and Sunday, thieves opened the key safe using a screwdriver and kicked in the door to the office where money from show fees was being kept.

They also stole an iPad, a card reader and a receipt printer.

Thieves then trashed the kitchen, damaging cupboards and doors and taking £583 worth of alcohol from the bar.

Overall, they made off with £2,218 worth of cash and goods and caused £2,000 in damages.

Police have confirmed they are investigating.

The community-led theatre has 137 children registered with them and is run with the help of 50 volunteers.

A total of 111 children will be performing in a production of musical Les Misérables in February next year, which Mike says will go ahead as planned.

He said: “We’re determined to not let it affect us and we will continue to do what we have been doing. We won’t let this stop us.

“When we saw the destruction on Sunday we did think about cancelling but because it is so important to the children we decided to go ahead.

"We have launched a fundraiser so that we can try to get some money (back)."

The fundraiser aims to raise £1,000.