Six men holding a banner for Fans Supporting Foodbanks. They are stood in front of a branded charity van and their banner reads: "Hunger doesn't wear colours".Fans Supporting Foodbanks
Georgie DockerandJonny Humphries, North West
A charity cash box has been stolen from outside Liverpool's Anfield stadium.
Police are investigating after the box was stolen from the Fans Supporting Foodbanks charity on Tuesday evening.
Staff at a stand run by the group reported first being distracted ahead of the Liverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain game before the container full of cash was stolen between 18:30 and 20:00 BST.
Charity chairman Dave Kelly said volunteers had been left "absolutely devastated", adding he "felt like I'd been punched in the stomach".
Merseyside Police confirmed officers were investigating and reviewing CCTV.
Chairman Dave Kelly sits in front of a plain wall in a navy blue polo shirt.Dave Kelly
Volunteers have been collecting match day donations outside home games at both Liverpool and Everton for more than a decade.
"We have experienced nothing but generosity throughout our 10 years," Kelly told BBC Radio Merseyside.
"It was a terrible experience and I felt so disappointed that someone had done that."
Donations made to the charity help to fund the distribution of food to eight locations around the area, he said.
"To steal something off anybody is bad enough but to steal money from a charity that's feeding people who are having difficulties during the cost of living crisis we're currently in is quite appalling," he continued.
Insp Sean Harrison said: "To target and steal from a charity in such a way is despicable and we will not tolerate this.
"We know the area outside of the stadium would have been busy and it is possible someone witnessed the theft.
"I would appeal for anyone who was in the area who saw anything suspicious or has any information to assist us to get in touch."
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Related topics
Food banks
Fundraising
Merseyside Police
Related internet links
Merseyside Police
Liverpool FC - Anfield
Fans Supporting Foodbanks