AN EVESHAM business owner has slammed the brazen thieves who broke into her shop twice in one night just weeks before it opened its doors.
Karen Fray, who is moving her laser tattoo removal and holistic business from Worcester to Evesham, spoke to the Observer after her shop was targeted by burglars last week.
The business owner only got the keys to her Vine Court premises four weeks ago and has been working tirelessly with her husband Eddie to get the shop ready for the opening next Friday.
She admitted the cold-hearted raid had left her feeling violated, despite the thieves escaping with nothing as the shop was still being decorated.
“It did make me feel quite unnerved when I walked in and saw what I was faced with the hole in the roof and everything,” she said.
“The first time they got in through the roof by taking all the tiles off and they forced their way in to the attic and then down through the ceiling.
“They then damaged the door to try and get out when they realised there was nothing in here to take.
“It is very lucky we haven’t moved anything in yet as we are still decorating. In that respect we have been very fortunate.
“They did damage the door and the door frame trying to get out, but we don’t believe that is the way they got out because the window was wide open and there were footprints on the windowsill.
After escaping empty-handed, the thieves incredibly made a second attempt to break into the building through the downstairs kitchen before breaking into a neighbouring business.
“They broke in, broke out and then broke back in again. When they got back in they broke into next door through their front door and they have literally ransacked his entire shop.
“There was stuff absolutely everywhere and they went through everything to try and see if they could find anything worth stealing.”
Police officers will be stepping patrols in the area as a result of the break-in at her premises and owing to a number of other businesses being targeted by thieves
Despite the raid, Karen has vowed to open her doors next Friday and not let the thieves win.
“I was slightly apprehensive after it happened, but if anything it has driven me even more and given me even more of a positive attitude.
“For my husband and myself it’s a big part of us, it’s our way of life. We are both self-employed, my husband works for himself and I run this business for the both of us so for us this is our livelihood.”
