Shopkeepers despair after three more businesses are raided in Lymington
LYMINGTON shopkeepers face further despair after three more businesses are hit in the town’s recent "epidemic" of smash-and-grab raids.
Hampshire police are investigating the incidents.
The first took place at Acute Look in Earley Court at around 10pm on Saturday 5th October where a window had been smashed. It is not clear if anything was stolen.
A second raid took place at Figgures Toys on the High Street at around 4am on Sunday 6th October. Door glass had been broken, and a till draw with cash was taken.
The police are linking both burglaries to the third incident at Lymington Taxis in New Street, where a window was smashed between 1.45am and 7am on the same Sunday.
Two charity collection boxes containing only a few pounds were found to have been taken, and £300 worth of damage was caused to the building.
Addressing the raids, Lymington and Pennington town councillor Jack Davies told the A&T: “I have emailed the police and crime commissioner’s office asking him to work with the council to set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in the High Street and Quay.
“CCTV doesn’t stop the crimes from happening and is unreliable at catching those responsible.”
Sue Burridge, whose family owns Figgures Toys, told the A&T: “I got a call from the police early Sunday morning and came down to the shop to find an officer and the night porter from Stanwell House which is just across the road from us. The porter had heard the break-in and came over to investigate but the offender disappeared.
“They smashed through the window in the door to get in and took the bottom half of the till. We have lost business from the window being boarded up due to the unfortunate incident with the car rolling into it and now from having to close the shop to clear up all the glass from the break-in.
“The police were very good and forensics came out on Sunday and had a look to see if they could find anything but they don’t know anything so far. The support from locals has been absolutely overwhelming and I cannot thank everyone enough.”
The recent burglaries have joined the growing number of businesses that have been targeted since the start of September in what has been described as an “epidemic” by the owner of a hairdressing salon that was hit three weeks prior.
Those with any information about the incidents should call the police on 101, and quote reference number 44190356397 for Acute Look, 44190356646 for Figgures Toys or 44190356693 for Lymington Taxis.
