RAIDERS used a pick-axe and shovel to break into two businesses in Felixstowe - the latest in a spate of burglaries in the town centre.But all the thieves got away with was a charity box containing around £20.
By Richard Cornwell
RAIDERS used a pick-axe and shovel to break into two businesses in Felixstowe - the latest in a spate of burglaries in the town centre.
But all the thieves got away with was a charity box containing around £20.
Police believe the two incidents are linked, but cannot say yet whether they are connected to a string of other incidents in the shopping area.
The latest raids at Comptons Tea Rooms in Orwell Road and a solicitors' office round the corner in Victoria Street happened during the early hours on Wednesday.
Owners of Comptons, Nigel and Dawn Howard were shocked to find their premises had been targeted - and were left with a huge mess to clear up.
“Whoever did this has gone through everything and chucked stuff all over the place just searching for money,” said Mrs Howard.
“They took off all the lids of the teapots, left freezer doors open, emptied things. It is an awful mess.
“We don't keep any money on the premises and so all they took was a charity box.”
Mr Howard said: “We are only a small business and we don't need grief like this - it's going to cost us money to put this right.
“I just want other businesses in the area to be on their guard because it looks as if whoever is behind this is just going down the road doing each shop.”
The thieves used a pick-axe and a shovel, taken from premises across the road, to smash open the back door of the tea rooms.
In the past couple of months a kebab shop and a catering company in Orwell Road have been broken into, and a bookshop has had a window smashed.
Earlier in the summer, two charity shops in Hamilton Road, and the Blue Cross animal adoption centre in Walton, were also broken into.
Police say a thief has been getting in through some very small spaces and windows and could be a very tiny man or woman, or even a child.
Anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the Orwell Road area on Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, or has any information about the latest break-ins, should call Felixstowe police on 01473 613500.
What do you think of the raiders? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk
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