Sticky-fingered thieves stole 100 jars of home-made jam from 'honesty' stall

Thieves have stolen nearly 100 jars of home-made jam being sold for charity from a roadside 'honesty' stall. Fleur Hobbs-McLernon, 44, said over the course of four days her stall at the end of her family's drive in Truro, Cornwall, was "wiped out". She started selling the jams four months ago after family and friends praised a batch of her marmalade. Mrs Hobbs-McLernon said: "My first try was marmalade and it ended up being very successful. We had 10 jars of it and I don't even like marmalade, although my husband does." Now she spends as much time as possible growing and harvesting fruit in her garden, her parents' and friends' gardens and the smallholding she has in Feock. She said: "It's gone from strength to strength. I have all this fruit and I really enjoy making the jam." Mrs Hobbs-McLernon donates 10p from the sale of every jar to Macmillan nurses after her sister's husband Martin O'Neill lost his short but brave battle with melanoma, aged 49. Despite their lives being turned upside down, the charity's nurses supported them every step of the way.
"I knew I was never going to make big bucks, but I find making the jam very pleasurable and the best thing is that this is not a typical village community, but by doing this it feels like it brings out the community spirit," she said. The first jars of jam, which cost £2 each through an 'honesty box' tin, were stolen some time between 10am and noon on Monday, August 31. "The stall had been wiped out," she said. "There was nothing left and just a few coppers left in the tin, which I thought was a bit strange. On Tuesday exactly the same thing happened, then again on Wednesday and Thursday. I think they're being really sneaky because by putting a few coppers in the tin it looks to people who are passing as if they are paying. This is my way of giving back to those who gave so much to us.
"Doing something I love, selling it and giving a proportion to this charity makes me feel less useless about his death." The family have reported the thefts to the police, installed a CCTV camera and are hoping their loyal and honest customers will keep returning to the stall. Inspector Mark Richards, from Truro police, said: "What a disgusting thing for some little herbert to do. The reality is one individual has stolen all that jam over four days and is selling it at knock-down prices all over our estates. If the community wants to help us with this one the answer is out there because they will know who has been selling the jam. I have every sympathy with this lady. What she was doing was well-intentioned but it has backfired and some horrible oik is making a few quid out of it to buy some fags. It's just despicable." Anyone with information should contact Truro police station.