Thief robs safe in broad daylight

The coffee-chain said a youth aged about 18 walked in as an engineer was fixing an air conditioning unit and went into the back office.

He took keys off the wall, opened the safe and stole the money before locking the safe and putting the keys back.

On his way out the brazen thief said "See you later," to the engineer, as if he was a member of staff.

The coffee chain released this CCTV image of a possible suspect.

Manager Sheehan Goonetillake said: "The engineer asked me if I had employed a young man because he'd just seen him leave the back. There is no male member of staff so I immediately checked CCTV footage.

"That money would have really made a difference to Tsunami victims and for it to be stolen in two and a half minutes, it's just so disappointing."

The cash was destined for Help Lanka, a charity dedicated to providing long term help to children in Sri Lanka since the Tsunami on Boxing Day 2004.

So far it has helped more than 5,000 children with food, clothing, medicine, counselling and educational assistance.

Mr Goonetillake said: "We make regular contributions to the charity from the proceeds at the shop, particularly more so as it is coming round to the anniversary, on Boxing Day.

"It was in the middle of our trading day so for someone to walk in like that it must have been very calculating. A member of staff could have walked in at anytime and you just don't know what could have happened."

Anyone who witnessed the man entering or leaving the property or anyone with any information is asked to call Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.