A BRAZEN thief wore a “Superman” T-shirt as he got staff at a charity shop to load a £140 sofa set into his van...then he sped away without paying.

The man and his accomplice, a scantily-clad woman, targeted the Sue Ryder shop in West Road, Westcliff. They got away with a three-seater sofa and an armchair.

Kath, manager of the Sue Ryder shop, said: “It’s desperate people.

“I think they probably think that because it’s donated it isn’t costing the charity anything, so they won’t miss it. However, that sofa and armchair was worth about £140 to the charity.”

She said it was particularly sad because Sue Ryder does its best to help people who have a criminal history.

The charity shop takes in people on community service, and their stores in Suffolk give work to people on day-release.

The crime comes after the Echo told of a spate of nine break-ins at charity shops in nearby Hamlet Court Road, which happened in the space of a month.

The Sue Ryder shop there was worst-hit. It suffered five burglaries from late January to February, with £230 of musical instruments taken on the last occasion.

Jake Smith, 19, of York Road, Southend, admitted seven of the burglaries. He was remanded in custody for sentencing later this month. Connor Byrne, 19, also of York Road, admitted taking part in the burglaries at the Sue Ryder and British Heart Foundation shops.

He received 84 days imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and a six-month curfew between 7pm and 7am.

Kath said it had become all too common nowadays for thieves to target charity shops.

She said: “You would be surprised at the problems we get. They change the price tickets so they can get it cheaper. Now we put the descriptions on them so we know they’re actually paying for the item they’ve got.”

Police are looking for a couple in their 20s or 30s who fled in a white Mercedes van at about 2.40pm on Sunday.

The man had black hair, a black beard, and wore a black Superman T-shirt. The woman had brown collar-length hair and wore a black top.

Anyone with information should call PC Chris Perry at Southend police station on 101.