Police caught two women rummaging through donated clothes outside a charity shop.

Two women, aged 72 and 47, were spotted by police stealing a pink toy box, two lampshades, a black bag of toys and plastic box of various items from outside the British Heart Foundation shop in Central Road, Worcester Park, at about 3am on Monday, July 29.

They were arrested and given £90 fixed penalty notices.

After making off with goods which had been donated by residents, the women were stopped whilst driving along Cheam Road towards Sutton.

The officer returned the goods to the charity shop, but moments later CCTV operators watched in astonishment as another woman turned up, pulled out a teddy bear from one of the bags, and gave it to her dog before walking off.

Police took no action on this incident.

Inspector Andy Stalley commented: "It’s wonderful we live in a borough where people want to give to help charities.

"But it’s clear that leaving goods in doorways overnight makes them easy targets for thieves."