A BUSINESSWOMAN has spoken of her heartbreak after her Colchester jewellery shop was raided by burglars, just days after opening.
Kate Johnson’s shop, Kotori, was one of two businesses in Sir Isaac’s Walk to be targeted on the same night.
A laptop computer, a safe containing cash and the float from the till were plundered from the shop, in Portals Precinct, on Sunday – ten days after it opened.
About £140 in cash was also snatched from the till at the Tea Rose Cafe, in Sir Isaac’s Walk.
Police are now checking through CCTV to track down a man who was captured on camera apparently lugging the stolen items away from the scene.
Miss Johnson said she was devastated by the break-in.
The 25-year-old, who set up the firm with stepdad Barry Gough, 59, was alerted by police shortly after 11pm.
She said: “It was such a shock. It’s extra costs we didn’t need at this stage. I’ve worked hard to get this far. It does make me angry.”
Lee Parkes, manager at Tea Rose Cafe, said he was raided at the same time last year.
He added: “It’s not going to break the bank, but it’s frustrating.
“It’s exactly the same as last year.
“They came in the same way and seemed to know where they were going.
“We’re just not going to keep cash on the premises any more.
“We have had so many incidents since we have been here – mostly vandalism and mess.
“Every time my phone rings, I think it’s something new.
“Something definitely needs to be done to improve security down here.
“You can walk down the High Street at night and there are lots of police dealing with drunks, but down here we don’t see any.”
An Essex Police spokeswoman said: “Break-ins to any business are devastating. However, it is even more of a blow to a small business.
“We are extremely keen to hear from anyone who has any information about either of these incidents.”
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