'Gutted' Gosport cafe owner faces up to second 'heart wrenching' break-in

The brazen burglary at Gails Cafe, Gosport, saw one of the intruders attempt to force entry by kicking out at the door.

But after being unable to get inside the Bemisters Lane outlet, the man was seen returning on CCTV with a brick to smash open the window in the door at around 10pm.

The hooded male, joined by two accomplices, then swiftly carried out a search of the cafe with a torch before they took the till and a money safe with just over £50 cash.

Police were informed and are investigating the incident but no arrests have been made yet.

John Hope, owner of Gails, said: ‘I’m gutted. They smashed the window in the door and took the till and money safe.

‘It’s not fair, we’re a small business and have just struggled through Covid and now this.

‘There’s CCTV which shows him trying to kick the door before he comes back with a brick and smashes the window. People nearby were woken up they were so loud.

‘The main man is looking through the shop with two others using a torch. They knew exactly what they were doing.’

John moved the cafe from its previous destination in Brockhurst Road after it was vandalised, with no items stolen on that occasion.

‘I was looking at other places but after getting vandalised it made my mind up to move - then this happens,’ he said.

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‘They must have been local opportunists. It’s heart wrenching and you start to wonder who it could be.

‘I’m just trying to make an honest living.’

The 35-year-old revealed he had been left out of pocket after paying for repairs himself.

He said: ‘I’ve got insurance but by the time I pay the excess it is cheaper to do it all off my own back.

‘I had to pay a locksmith to come out and lost a day of trading because of it.

‘Hopefully the police can catch them because I don’t want this to happen to someone else.’

The man seen smashing the door was said to be wearing a grey hoodie with striped shorts. The other two could not be seen clearly.

A police spokesman said: ‘We were called at 10.14pm. Entry gained by damaging the front door. Small amount of cash stolen.

‘Anyone with information should call 101 quoting 44200350576 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.’

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