£10,000 raid on town store
Raid on town-centre store lasted just a minute
STAFF at a jewellers were heartbroken to find their town centre shop had been burgled just a week after a £50,000 makeover.
A thief broke into Grace & Co on Castle Street and smashed their way into a brand new double Pandora cabinet as well as another glass display case, making off with around £10,000 in goods.
The masked burglar forced up the shutters and smashed through the door with a paving slab, ransacking the store and filling a holdall with a large quantity of pandora bracelets, charms and other silver jewellery.
The store has a security system that pumps out thick smoke in the case of a break in, but the intruder was in and out in barely a minute.
Shop owner Mick McQuillan said: “It was very disappointing because we have only just reopened after investing over £50,000 on a Pandora, Nomination and Links of London refit, much of which was damaged in the raid.
“The retail market is having a tough time at the moment and having invested in the future of our shop we are determined that it will be business as usual.
“It is the first time we have had anything like this in nearly five years of trading in Hinckley.
“We have a great team and they have really pulled together and we can now trade as normal –but with upgraded security.”
Mr McQuillan said he was grateful to customers and businesses around the shop for their support since the incident.
He said: “We are an independent business and we value customers who shop locally. We are very grateful to everyone who has supported us and look forward to their continued support.”
The burglary happened at around 2.30am on May 1.
If you have any information, contact 101, quoting crime number 18000 195970.
Grace & Co is a family run business with nine shops, including in Market Harborough and Ashby.