A CONFIDENCE trickster has snatched hundreds of pounds in donations from York's Salvation Army.

The thief, said to be aged 16 or 17, walked into the York army's Gillygate headquarters after asking to use the toilet.

But he then went into the secretary's office and grabbed £395 cash and £180 in cheques from a desk, where it was being counted.

Major Paul Westlake, joint commander of the York Citadel Corps, said the incident had left "a nasty taste in the mouth" of everyone at the Gillygate centre.

The money had come from collections at Sunday services, and would have been used to finance general army work, Major Westlake said.

He told the Evening Press: "No weapon was involved and no one was physically hurt, but it was still an unpleasant experience for the people who were downstairs at the time.

"The whole thing has left us quite angry. That money would have been put to good use, but now it is gone and I don't for one second think we will see it again.

"The word conscience seems to have gone out of the window these days.

"We are aware that we must be extra careful from now on, we are mindful that this individual may tell his friends about this, and so we will be stepping up security considerably."

Major Westlake said he thought the incident was opportunist, rather than planned, and that he did not believe the thief was a drug addict.

He said: "It is very sad that someone has done this to a charity, a charity that does what it can to help people.

"The help we can give is always curtailed when money is taken like this."

The theft happened at about 11.45am yesterday. The thief was said to be between 5ft 4in and 5ft 6in tall, skinny, with short dark hair and wearing a half white half navy T-shirt.

Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to ring the police on 01904 631321.

Updated: 15:37 Tuesday, August 13, 2002