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Thu, 23 Jul 2026

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 Charity 'heartbroken' as food ruined in break-in

FareShare North East says it lost 16 tonnes of food - the equivalent of 7,000 meals.
A charity that distributes food to those in need has been left devastated after thieves broke into its warehouse, causing 16 tonnes of supplies to be ruined. FareShare North East, which operates in Teesside, had its power cut and perishable items such as milk and meat were discarded due to the break-in on Tuesday. The charity's hub manager Natasha Flanagan described the situation as "heartbreaking" and said that the team was devastated by the incident. FareShare North East redistributes food donated by supermarkets from warehouses in Newcastle and Middlesbrough to over 200 community groups, including food banks. The charity has been in Middlesbrough since 2023 and moved to its new base on Skippers Lane four months ago. Flanagan reported that lockers were ransacked, staff drawers were broken into, and the chiller doors were left open, causing significant damage to food. CEO Jake Hanmore said that his team was "absolutely devastated" by the break-in and that it was heartbreaking for them. Cleveland Police is investigating the incident and has asked anyone with information to come forward. The Middlesbrough hub is due to reopen on Thursday.