SEA cadets have been left devastated after thieves ransacked their office and stole hundreds of pounds.

Crooks broke into Clacton Sea Cadets’ administration office, in Windsor Avenue, and stole more than £200 from a safe.

The burglars also trashed the office and ripped open envelopes containing cheques from the cadets’ parents which covered their course fees.

Clacton Sea Cadets’ committee member Shirley Jeffrey said she was “appalled” after she found the office had been raided.

She believes the thieves broke into the building through a window.

Mrs Jeffrey said: “I was called by Clacton Sea Cadets’ administration officer Andrew Walker who noticed the garage was damaged when he made his way down to the building.

“He called me straight away and drove to my house to take me down to the building as a witness because he was worried someone could have still been inside.

“We discovered the safe had been broken into and money had been taken out of the cash box inside which contained more than £200 which included the cadets’ parade submission money.

“The admin office was completely trashed and envelopes were all over the floor as some cheques which funded the sea cadets’ courses had been stolen.

“It was devastating and it is going to be awful notifying the parents.”

The raid happened between last Wednesday and Thursday.

Mrs Jeffrey added: “I don’t know who is responsible but it is awful that anyone could do this to the cadets and I hope we find out who has done this terrible act.

“It feels like Clacton is no longer a safe place to live anymore and it is upsetting.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We were called at about 2pm on Thursday after a worker discovered the building’s garage door had been forced open.

“He reported the building had been empty since 10.30pm on Tuesday, March 21.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Clacton police station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.