OUT of pocket shop owners are livid after thieves carried out a “chaotic” crime spree in a market town.
The burglars hit traders in Ringwood on Saturday and into Monday, smashing windows, stealing cash, and causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
Business owners have described feeling “anxious” due to apparent police inactivity, however, an inspector has pledged to investigate.
In the early hours of Saturday, May 13, New Forest Wines in Christchurch Road was broken into after its front door was smashed open and a till was stolen.
A nearby salon was targeted at around 2.30am and cash was taken from a cash drawer.
A short while later, at around 4.40am, burglars broke into a shop in Southampton Road and around £100 worth of products were stolen.
Lastly, a garage was broken into in Betsy Lane between 8.30pm on Sunday and 7.10am on Monday with two bikes stolen.
Daniel Read has run New Forest Wines since August and told the Echo he fears history could repeat itself.
“They were obviously just after money,” he said.
“No bottles of wine were touched at all, they just smashed through the door and made off with the till – which only had about £30 in it.
“My reaction is a lot of anger and frustration. Multiple businesses have been hit but the chances of finding the perpetrators are so thin.”
Daniel had to fork out just under £4,000 to repair his shop door.
He added: “I’m praying it’s covered by my insurance but if not that’s a significant amount of money that’s come out of my business.
“It highlights the problem of lack of police visibility on the streets, there’s no deterrent. It’s frustrating and hits small businesses like mine the hardest.”
Ringwood resident Denis Killen, 89, said police need to act fast to bring the situation under control.
The retired newsagent, who used to run Lunns in Christchurch Road, said: “There is smashed glass from the doors where thieves have broken into the shop and got in and bricks seem to have been used.
“The town was a bit chaotic the next morning. Police are not all that accommodating.”
New Forest West inspector Darren Ord said: “We understand that news of these burglaries in Ringwood from over the weekend will cause concern within the local community.
“We want to reassure you that we take these reports very seriously. My officers will be conducting high-visibility patrols in the local area in the coming days and over the weekend to act as a deterrent for these would-be opportunists.
“We will continue to relentlessly pursue criminals so that their lives, not those of local people, are a misery. We are absolutely clear that this behaviour will not be tolerated.
“Criminals need to know that the New Forest is a hostile environment for them, and that every effort will be made to seek justice for victims.”
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