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Worcestershire boy, 5, left 'heartbroken' after honesty box is stolen from stall

Harry Clare, 5, with his honesty shop: Rosie Clare
Harry Clare, 5, with his honesty shop: Rosie Clare

A five-year-old boy was left "heartbroken" after a thief stole the entire contents of his honesty box from a stall in the Worcestershire countryside.

Harry Clare was inspired to start running his own honesty shop after reading a book about shopkeerpers during the lockdown.

The five-year-old set-up a stall with the help of his parents near their glamping site, Rosebud Meadow in Malvern.

People were encouraged to take cheese, eggs and lip balm from the stall and pay what they think the products are worth by leaving money in a honesty box.

Harry's parents were shocked to discover on Tuesday that someone had stolen Harry's honesty box, which contained around £40.

The youngster's mother, Rosie Clare, told the Evening Standard that her son could not understand why someone would take his things.

Harry sells cheese and eggs from his honesty shop (Rosie Clare)
Harry sells cheese and eggs from his honesty shop (Rosie Clare)

"They took everything - his little money pot and all of his products," said Mrs Clare.

"He was honestly heartbroken. He couldn't understand why someone would do that to him.

"I had to explain to him that whoever took it probably needed the money, but he did take it very personally."

Harry's family has been contacted by people from around the world after a tweet about Harry's shop went viral.

Auctioneer Philip Serrell shared a picture of Harry on Twitter with the caption: "This is Harry - he is 5 and runs a little honesty shop near to my Saleroom.

"Someone has stolen his money and his stock. They will probably be too ashamed to return either but if they get to read this I hope it costs them a few nights sleep."

The tweet has been liked more than 26,000 times and shared by thousands.

"Some people have no values whatsoever," wrote one social media user on Twitter.

"They won't lose any sleep. They'll go back to see if there is more to steal. Little Harry should keep going. He's a star."

Another sent a message all the way from Australia, writing on Twitter: "I’m gutted for this little boy not about the money but that he is forced to already be confronted with the scum of society.

"If I could send little Harry a note of encouragement from Australia I certainly would. Sorry little chap."

"We've been inundated by people getting in touch to say they want to donate," said Mrs Clare.

"The value of the box was only about £40, but it was never about the financial impact, it's about the fact that someone would do this to a five-year-old.

"Harry told me he wants to make other children happy, so we've set up a Justgiving page for Acorns Children's Hospice."

She added that Harry's stall is already "up and running and open for business".

Nearly a £1,000 has already been raised for the hospice via Harry's Justgiving page.

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