A THIEF stole two cancer charity collection boxes from a cafe while the front counter was briefly unattended.

The opportunist thief snatched the cash, intended for Children's Cancer Research and Marie Curie, from Brewed Coffee, in Horwich.

He can be seen in CCTV footage hovering around the counter area of the Lee Lane shop, while co-owner Moumita Patel is busy in the kitchen.

He first takes money from the Marie Curie collection box cash, and then grabs the larger container for Children's Cancer Research.

The cafe owners cannot be sure how much money was taken but believe about £100 could have been in the Cancer Research box.

Cafe co-owner Raj Patel, who says he missed the burglary by 'about 30 seconds' said he was disgusted by the callous theft.

He said: " It's a low-life kind of attitude, of all things he has chosen to target charity boxes. He didn't look like he was a poor kind of person. It was just an opportunity for him. He has come straight across the street into the shop, looked around, lifted the first one, then realised my wife had still not come out of the kitchen and decided to go for the big plastic container for kids' cancer research."

Mr Patel says he realised something was wrong as soon as he returned to the shop, as he had prepared the counter that morning.

After checking if the box had fallen off the shelf, he called police to report the theft.

Mr Patel is now worried about his wife working in the shop.

The father-of-one says the cafe has become very much a part of the community since it opened more three years ago.

And he adds that the "very loyal customers" who donate to the boxes have been shocked by the callous theft.

He said: "They have been saying it's absolutely appalling and disgusting that someone can come in and do that.

"Obviously they were concerned about my wife. She didn't get hurt but there was the potential that anything could have happened. I told her it was lucky she didn't have to confront him, because that could have turned nasty.

He continued: "She sees anyone walking through our doors as our customers and trustworthy. She is a bit shocked this has happened."

And the 49-year-old says he is also worried about the upsetting effect on his customers.

He continued: "It's very much used by the elderly as well as families with children that come in. It's quite shocking, really."

Mr and Mrs Patel have also taken steps to make their cafe dementia-friendly, and don't want vulnerable elderly people to feel frightened about coming into their shop.

They intend to invest in upgrading their CCTV to increase their security.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the theft. Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.