A CHARITY has expressed anger after a “disturbing” raid in which Poppy Appeal collection boxes were stolen.

Masked men raided Silverlake Stadium, home to Eastleigh FC, at around 3am on November 5.

CCTV footage shows three men breaking the front door of the shop area and searching for items to steal.

This is the second time in 12 days that the stadium has been broken into.

The raiders use a wheelie bin to carry goods out of the shop including two Poppy Appeal collection boxes.

The Royal British Legion have hit back at the thieves stating that their actions will deprive those in “much need of assistance”.

The Poppy Appeal is a fundraising campaign run by the Royal British Legion in which paper poppies are handed out for a donation to raise money for military personal, veterans and their families who need support.

A spokesperson for the Royal British Legion said: “We are greatly disturbed to hear of the theft of a poppy collecting tin.

“This loss will deprive serving personnel, veterans and their families of much needed assistance and support from the Legion.

“We’d like to thank those who had donated to the Eastleigh Football Club collection boxes and the wider Hampshire community for their ongoing support.”

The CCTV footages shows the men in the shop for more than two minutes and captures them entering a back office after many attempts of kicking down the door.

One man is also seen taking caned drinks from the fridge before beckoning the other two thieves and fleeing the shop with the wheelie bin in tow.

The break-in is reported to have caused “significant damage”.

A spokesman from Hampshire Police said: "We received a report at 2.54am this morning of a break-in at Eastleigh Football Club.

"Damage was caused to an office door.

"Nothing has been reported stolen at this time.

"Part of the investigation will look at whether there are links to any other incidents."

On October 24, three masked men armed with tools raided the stadium at around 3.30am.