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Burglars strike at shop just weeks after award nomination
9:26am Wednesday 16th December 2009
A surf and ski shop nominated for a prestigious business award just three weeks ago has been targeted by burglars.
The Piha surf and ski wear shop in Bradford on Avon, was raided in the early hours of Friday morning, with burglars taking around £3,000 worth of stock.
Owner Paul Stewart, who runs the business in Market Street, arrived at work to find the result of the break-in.
“It was a dreadful day on the Friday,” he said.
“We came in and had to change the locks and do a big stock check. We are still finding things missing now.
“I had a migraine on Friday, and I hadn’t had one for two years, it was a very difficult day.”
Mr Stewart said the thieves focused on items which they could sell on quickly, including sunglasses and torches.
He described the break-in as professional, as little damage was caused to the premises.
“They forced the lock, and a neighbour heard a door slam loudly at about 12.45am on Friday, which is unusual for that area of the town at that time of night.”
Mr Stewart, and his wife Jackie Allen, only celebrated the first anniversary of the business in October, and were chosen as the best new Bradford business in the Wiltshire New Business Competition last month.
He added: “Hopefully it won’t affect us too much, providing the insurance goes through ok, but that doesn’t help with the cash flow at this time of year.
“We sell a lot of sunglasses in the winter as people go off on skiing holidays.
“At the end of the day at least they didn’t do as much damage as they might have, but you do all that hard work and this is what happens.”
Items stolen included 20-30 pairs of designer sunglasses, goggles and wind-up torches, as well as a Rip Curl jacket worth £134.
The burglars also took £25 of cash from the till, raised from the sale of Christmas cards to help pay for the town’s Christmas lights.
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Paul Stewart, of the Piha surf and ski shop
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itsnotu, bradford on avon says...
6:25am Sun 20 Dec 09