Chester pet shop owner's heartbreak over £15,000 break-in
 |
A pet shop owner in Chester is appealing for information after his shop was broken into and stock valued at £15,000 was taken.
Dave Clarke, who runs Contact Pets, on the Parade in Blacon, has said the break-in was like being “stabbed” and that he is “absolutely devastated” about the theft.
Mr Clarke said that he doesn’t know how he will cope financially and fears some of his staff may lose their jobs as a result of the burglary.
The burglary happened some time between 6pm on Saturday and 8am on Monday as the shop was closed all day on Sunday.
Mr Clarke is appealing for information about the theft and said the theft will affect him particularly badly because he was not insured at the time. He said:
“The vast majority of stuff which was taken was fishing tackle. Small items such as rods, quite a few reels, lures and things like that. They also took a few reptile bits and they must have a small dog because they took a particular flavour of small dog food.
“The total value was £15,000. We have been in Blacon for 16 years and it is a little family shop. When the insurance came in for renewal they asked for an upgrade to the alarm system which cost about £1,000.
“Unfortunately I couldn’t afford it at the time because we had just opened a new shop in Deeside and we were saving up. We had the insurance but weren’t covered for theft until the alarm system went in and that’s when they have hit us.”
Contact Pets have put a lengthy post on their Facebook page explaining their predicament which has had over 10,000 views on it so far.
Mr Clarke is hoping that someone may have information and he is hoping to get some of his stock back.
He fears some of his eight staff may have to be laid off as a result of the loss.
He added: “The only slightly positive thing would be to get some of the products back because I haven’t even finished paying for it because I got it on credit.
“The staff have worked so hard to build the business up because we have had trouble with the building works going on at the Parade.
“This feels just like I’ve been stabbed or something. I’m absolutely devastated. It could cost jobs but I do not know how we are going to deal with it.
"We will have to do the best we can by our staff because it is their income and they all have families and babies and things.
"It is unbelievable that people can do this.”
If you have any information about this incident or are offered any of these items please contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting crime reference number CC15210953.
|
|
