Baker disappointed after thief takes half of honesty box cake stall stock
A baker who set up an honesty box cake stall in Spalding says she has been left frustrated after a thief took around half of her stock without paying.
Sabina Seidel, 39, launched Treat Street Bake Shed on Priory Road at the end of March, offering homemade cakes, cookies, blondies and other baked goods for people to buy.
The stall operates using an honesty system, with customers able to pay by cash or by scanning a QR code for card payments.
The theft happened on Saturday evening, when a man reportedly took around 25 items from the stall, including blondies, cookies and cookie pizza slices, without leaving any money.
Ms Seidel said the items taken were worth around £80 in total.
Doorbell footage showed the man helping himself to a number of products. Ms Seidel also said he appeared to try to tamper with the cash box.
The incident has been reported to Lincolnshire Police.
Lincolnshire Police confirmed it was investigating a report of cakes and cookies being stolen from the stall in Spalding between 7.25pm and 8pm on Saturday.
A spokesperson said: “No arrests had been made.”
Ms Seidel, who runs the cake shed from Friday to Monday each week, said the incident had left her upset because of the time and effort that goes into making the bakes.
Despite the theft, she said she would not let one person spoil the project and still hopes to expand the shed in the future.
Local people have also voiced their disappointment, saying the theft showed a lack of respect for the community and for the work involved in running the stall.
Honesty boxes have long been used in rural communities, with many now offering digital payment options as well as cash. However, thefts from similar stalls have continued to be an issue.
In 2024, a community rallied to raise money for a farmer after more than 200 bags of potatoes were stolen from his honesty stall at Anton’s Gowt, near Boston.
Ms Seidel said feedback for Treat Street Bake Shed had otherwise been very positive and that she was trying to do something nice for the local community.