Charity bottle stolen from Tea Room

Women in Tilly's Tea Room at 3:25pm Tuesday 23 April when charity bottle went missing

An appeal to help trace women who stole a charity bottle from Tilly's Tea Room has been made.

The bottle was an big old whisky bottle containing money from the sale of charity goods and from customers loose change, about one third full with around £500 in it. The money is being collected in aid of St Vincent de Paul, which helps the homeless and runs a food bank.

Melanie Caffrey from Tilly's Tea Room explained: "The women entered the tea room, had a look round, were very intimidating to staff, staff kept an eye on them. They were talking in their own language. They had long dark dresses on.

"They went out, and then came back in again and went into the tea room where we sell items for charity, which one of the ladies was looking at. She went to the till to pay for the goods and asked for a bag, the assistant went to get a bag. Then they left. About ten minutes later staff realised the bottle had gone from the counter, which must have been picked up whilst the staff were distracted looking for the bag. Staff think they put the bottle under one of their dresses.

Melanie Caffrey added: “We have had a lot of messages from other people to say they have seen these women in Littleborough, Rochdale and Castleton. They tried to buy goods in one Castleton shop with a fake £10, but the staff recognised it was fake and wouldn’t take it. 

"The ladies are very distinctive in their clothing and have gold teeth. If you recognise them or see them please get in touch with the police."