'DISGUSTING' thieves stole three charity pots during a night of break-ins.

Jurassic Rocks Café in Greenhill Gardens, Weymouth, and Quiddles Café at Chesil Cove and Perryfields Ltd in Easton Lane, both on Portland, are all believed to have been broken in to late on Friday night or in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Two charity boxes were taken from Jurassic Rocks Café, one for Weymouth Carnival and one for the National Coastwatch, as was a sum of cash and around 150 ice lollies.

From Quiddles Café, a quantity of cash, a charity pot and a quantity of soft drinks were stolen.

No items were taken from the painting, finishing, shot blasting and plant hire company Perryfields Ltd.

Police believe the incidents are connected and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

All three incidents involved the use of tools to enter the premises.

At both Quiddles Café and Jurassic Rocks a red bin was used to move the stolen goods.

It is believed the red bucket was taken from Jurassic Rocks to remove the ice lollies and police have said that a red plastic bin was used in the incident at Quiddles Café.

Manager of Jurassic Rocks Café, Iain Turnbull, said: “They took the charity boxes for the carnival and Coastwatch. They’ve only just been put in so there was nothing in them but the culprit didn't know that, it’s disgusting.”

Mr Turnbull believes there is a good chance of catching those responsible after they left two of the tools they used, a screwdriver and a chisel, at the scene.

The All Saints School prom took place on Friday evening and Mr Turnbull wants any pupils who may have gone to the beach afterwards to think if they saw anything or were offered any ice lollies.

He said: “Just picture the scene, someone walking down there with a big red Wall's ice cream bucket full of ice lollies. I want them to think if they may have been offered some lollies.”

Ryan Hope, chairman of trustees for Weymouth Carnival, said it’s a blow for both the businesses and the carnival.

He said: “It’s disappointing for the carnival - we are trying to bring in income. This has hit the carnival as well as the businesses that have been broken in to.”

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with any information on any of the break-ins should contact Dorset Police on 10 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.