Police investigate theft of shop’s ornamental dragon
To those that stole from me, I want to say how dare you. I work hard ... I have to earn money Atalanta Gourlay
ASHOPKEEPER has been left angry and disheartened after a thief stole a two-foot-tall ornamental dragon from outside her shop.
The owner of Scene It, in Cheltenham, claims she had seen two men outside her shop the day before and wondered what they were up to.
The theft from the shop which sells ornamental items has come as a shock to the shop owner.
Atalanta Gourlay, 55 from Cheltenham said: “I saw these characters outside the shop on Friday. They were young men on bikes and I would say that they were around 18 to 21 years old. They were back on Saturday.
“I saw them and was about to make my way to the front of the shop where some of the ornamental dragons were displayed. One of them grabbed one of the ornamental dragons by the neck and cycled off.”
The dragon stands two feet tall and is quite unusual and worth around £150.
Ms Gourlay called the police straight away who were at the scene within minutes. She said: “I was really angry with myself for not getting to the shop front in time. I am upset that I have been able to leave items outside my shop for years - then this happens.
“To those that stole from me, I want to say how dare you. I work hard and I have to earn money to run the shop and buy stock in bulk. I sell these items to make a living. Not for you to come along and steal.”
Ms Gourlay is appealing to the public to come forward with any information that they may have. It would have been an unusual sight to see a young man on a bike with a two-foot-tall dragon in hand. The incident happened at about 2.30pm on Saturday September 7.
A Gloucestershire police spokesperson said: “At around 2.22pm on Saturday 7 September police were called with a report that a two-foot-tall ornamental dragon had been stolen from outside a shop. Two men approached the store, took the ornamental dragon and fled on a bicycle in the direction of Fairview Road.
“Anyone with information about the theft should call police on 101 and reference crime 28047/19.”