I WAS interested to read how Northumbria Police intend to deal robustly with the person who snatched a charity bag (Echo, May 7). Quite rightly so.

However, in a recent factual cops and robbers television programme, a CCTV operator focused on people hooking clothing out of a charity bank.

He had excellent film of faces, thieves in action and their van, including the registration plate.

The police caught up with the thieves on the road. The clothing was in the van and the occupants were easily identified.

However, we were told at the end of the programme no action was taken because there was no way of knowing who the actual owners of the clothes were. So the perpetrators went free.

Will the police be able to successfully prosecute and can the cost of prosecution be justified against the value of the items ?

Why are there loopholes for opportunists to take advantage of the intentions of well meaning people?

Gerard Wild, Richmond.