CCTV footage shows a brazen thief stealing from the till and charity box at a family-run farm shop.

The owners of the Broadditch Farm Shop in Southfleet, Kent, say they're "gutted" after the break-in last week, which saw them lose around £2,000 in money and repairs. "

Despite feeling "numb" since the theft last Tuesday (22/04), owner John Harris says what bothers him most is the man taking the Ellenor Hospice charity pot. "

"He was inside for about 45 minutes," Mr Harris said. "I've got a hell of a lot of footage of him..."

"At the end of the shop, we've got little skylight windows that are permanently fixed shut. [The thief] pried them open with a crowbar."

"He managed to crawl through and he went through the whole shop."

"He wasn't particularly bright: he didn't have a balaclava on, but he was wearing gloves."

CCTV footage from the shop shows the man, who looks to be in his mid-to-late 20s, making his way through the premises, using a torch to look around.

As well as going through the till around 10:40pm, the thief also took the Ellenor Hospice charity pot, putting coins into a white plastic bag he took from underneath the till as he went.

"He emptied all the pennies from the till, took the charity boxes, then went upstairs and decided to break into the office through the security doors," Mr Harris continued. "

"We had a lot of float change in there which he also took, as well as our night safe. By the time we get the repairs done, it's going to come to a few thousand pounds."

"But the worst thing was the hospice boxes. What a low life - that's what has hit everyone, the fact he took those."

Business owner Mr Harris added that he would be putting a new alarm system in to prevent anything similar from happening again.

"We've been running 35 years and it's the first occasion we've had like this," he said. "It's had a huge impact on everyone - the staff and the customers."

"Like a lot of small businesses, we're just trying to make a living and it feels gutting to know that someone has come in and done this."

"It just makes you feel really, really sad."

"I appreciate we're not going to get the money back, but it's just the hassle and the inconvenience... It's an intrusion."

"We're a family farm run by my brother and I. We're sixth generation. It just feels a bit numbing, to be honest."

The incident was reported to police, who attended the shop within an hour.

Mr Harris said a forensics team took blood samples found near where the thief broke in.

However, Mr Harris has been told it could take up to eight weeks before he gets the results back.

Since posting about the ordeal on social media, Broadditch Farm Shop have received a huge outpouring of support.

"What was really nice is that last week we had quite a few people coming in, some existing customers and some new people, and they're donating money to the hospice," Mr Harris said. "

"There are a lot of good people out there - there aren't so many bad ones, luckily."

Kent Police have releasd an image of a person they would like to speak to about the incident.

The force said: "Do you recognise this man? "

"Officers investigating a burglary at a Dartford business have released a CCTV image of a man who they would like to speak to in connection with the incident."

"It was reported to Kent Police that a farm shop on New Barn Road, Southfleet, was broken into on the evening of Tuesday 22 April 2025. Cash was allegedly stolen from the premises."

"Officers attended and initial enquiries were carried out. A CCTV image has been published of a man who may be able to assist the investigation."

"Anyone who recognises the man or with relevant information should contact Kent Police on 01474 366149 quoting 46/69643/25."