TWO Fordingbridge businesses have been broken into within six days of each other. 

Police were called to reports of a burglary at Select Pet Foods on Green Lane at around 12.30am on Thursday (July 30).

A window on the front door was damaged but nothing is believed to have been stolen.

Tony Allen, who has run the business with his wife Sandra for 26 years, said they were alerted to the break-in at around midnight. They received a phone call when the alarm was triggered.

“I dived out in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and slippers and came whizzing down to the shop. I could see that the door window had been broken and phoned 999. They turned up within 15 minutes - two marked cars and one unmarked car.”

He added: “It is already a difficult time, trading is hard as it is. We’re gutted, my wife is panicking now ‘is it going to happen again?’”

He is urging anyone with information that could help police with their investigation to come forward, adding: “Please get in touch with us or phone the police.”

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: “We can confirm that we were called out to an incident at 12.32am this morning (30 July) to reports of a burglary at Select Pet Food on Green Lane.

“Officers attending the scene noted that the window panel of the front door of the property has been damaged. No items were stolen during the incident.

“An investigations is ongoing in order to identify the suspect involved.”

Retro Barbers in Salisbury Street was broken into on Saturday, July 25 and a till was stolen.

Malcolm Carter, who runs the barbers which had reopened last month after the lockdown, said: “It is disgusting.”

“There’s just no respect,” he added. “The problem is it is happening all over the place.”

During the incident around £600 worth of damage was done to the door. The stolen till, which was empty when it was taken, was later found dumped in Stuckton the next day and was damaged so will have to be rep

“Everything is a struggle anyway and they go and do that,” he added.

“I’ve got two shops. It’s quite hard, we’re just starting business after three months of being shutdown. We’ve still got to pay for stuff and this is extra expense.”

Anyone with information contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101.