Burglary at Bishop's Waltham high street shop costs owners thousand of pounds

CCTV installed in Ron Upfield, in the High Street, caught two men raiding the shop at 12.15am on Friday.

The thieves made off with the store’s till, containing more than £50 – and made several trips shifting stolen goods to a van outside.

Anna Backhouse, who has run the store with Matthew Backhouse since 2006, said: ‘They pulled up in a van and checked out the front window.

‘They then came around the back and kicked the door in – they made about four or five trips taking the TVs to the van.

’We have got CCTV footage, but obviously it’s dark, so there’s only so much you can make out.’

‘It looks like they just took the opportunity of the fact no one’s about.

‘Nothing like this has happened for many years.’

Anna said the break-in has left the pair ‘absolutely gutted,’ coming at a time when the shop has already been ‘massively affected’ by the nationwide lockdown, furloughing four members of staff at 80 per cent pay.

She said: ‘The stolen televisions and the damage to the door will cost several thousand pounds.

‘We are having a bad enough time as it is at the moment.

‘Not being able to open the shop has massively affected turnover.’

‘But we’re are doing okay – we’re still trading three days a week.

‘We’re hoping to get the staff back in as soon as possible.’

But the community has been ‘fantastic’ in offering support, according to the manager.

She said: ‘We have had lots of people popping their head around the door – maintaining social distancing – offering to help.

‘I think everyone is shocked this has happened on the high street.’

Police are investigating the burglary and are appealing for anyone with information to call 101, quoting 44200152912.

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