Barber tells of gratitude as community helps out after shop hit by thieves

AFife barber has said he lost a part of himself after thieves ransacked his shop, stealing equipment worth £5,000.

Ibrahim Gormez, owner of Hello Turkish Barber in Lochore, was shocked to see his shop had been targeted when he returned after a day off on Tuesday.

The father of one, originally from Turkey and now living in Glenrothes, opened his Lochleven Road business in September 2020. He has been left heartbroken by the attack, describing the shop as his “everything”.

Thieves stole clippers, scissors, hair products and cash, also damaging the shop door.

But the community has already rallied round, raising almost £2,000 to help get Ibrahim back on his feet.

Ibrahim thinks the shop was targeted after he locked up on Monday night.

He was on his way to visit a friend in Livingston on Tuesday when he received a call from the owner of a neighbouring business to tell him about the break-in.

“It hurts – I didn’t think this would happen to me,” he said.

“I’m not a big business but if I was and had a lot more money, then this sort of thing wouldn’t hurt me as much, but when you are a small business every penny counts.

“I feel upset. I trust everyone and open my heart. They aren’t customers to me, they are family. My 14-year-old daughter is the only family I have here, so I treat all of my customers like they are my family.

“I feel so down and I don’t know what to do or what to think.”

The thieves left the shop almost completely empty, stealing £5,000 worth of items and £800 from the till.

Ibrahim is worried it will be hard to catch those responsible as they also stole his camera box, which holds the CCTV.

He urged those with information to contact police.

In light of the robbery, the local community has rallied round to support Ibrahim and help him rebuild his business.

An online fundraising page was launched by a local resident just hours after the news broke, with more than £1,000 raised in a few hours.

When talking about the support he has had since the incident, Ibrahim said: “I have had hundreds of messages from people since the break-in, my phone hasn’t stopped.

“People have offered to donate all sorts like mirrors and clippers and help paint the shop.

“The support has been great.”

Police Scotland confirmed a report of a break-in at a commercial premises on Lochleven Road on Tuesday, and inquiries are ongoing.

BREAK-IN: Ibrahim Gormez’s Lochore barber shop, Hello Turkish Barber, was raided by thieves who took thousands of pounds worth of equipment, but the community has rallied round to help him get back on his feet.

The thieves also damaged the front door of the shop.