Knicker thief caught on CCTV stealing charity display

Police are on the hunt for an underwear thief who stole a charity display of pink bras and knickers.

The hooded culprit was caught on CCTV shimmying up a pole to reach the washing line of lingerie at the Pristine Car Wash in Penwortham, Preston, which had been put up in aid of "Paint Penwortham Pink" to highlight Breast Cancer Now.

Over 100 local shops and businesses in the area had all donated £20 to the cause in order to turn the town pink for a week in October - which also marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Businesses decorated their premises pink to raise awareness of breast cancer. Credit: Car Wash/PA Wire

When Pristine Car Wash owner Louise Pratt, 35, arrived at work last Friday, she was shocked when she saw the display had vanished.

She checked the CCTV and spotted the thief at 2.24am brazenly leap over a gate to get into the premises before scaling a pole to pinch the undergarments.

Miss Pratt said she wanted the offender publicly exposed for stealing from a charitable cause.

The missing underwear is yet to be found but a replacement display has since been put up in time for the judging of the displays.