THOUSANDS of pounds worth of items have been stolen from two small businesses in Rubery, just months after they were devastated by a fire.
Amy’s Floral Designs and M & D Solutions, based at Father’s Barn market on New Road, were burgled overnight last Friday (February 24) after thieves broke into the building through a skylight.
The businesses, which sit adjacent to each other, had been recovering from an electrical fault fire in October which destroyed the main market hall and had reopened in the new year.
An estimated £2,000 worth of items were stolen from the florist, including Village and Goose Creek scented candles and the contents of the cash box.
Devastated by the burglary Amy Joynes said: “It is truly heartbreaking, especially after the fire last year, we were just picking ourselves up again.
“Someone smashed through the sky light and lowered down a ladder, they had broken through the back door and made their way to the mobile repair shop next door.
“I have reopened but the shop shelves are a little bare, I am just hoping someone will see my candles being sold online and let me know.
“I can’t afford to close,” the mum-of-three added.
M & D Mobile Solutions, a mobile phone repair shop, also suffered a blow with the manager Matthew estimating up to £15,000 worth of screens, laptops, phones and speakers being taken.
He said: “Something needs to be done we can’t keep going on like this, it just seems to be one thing after another.
“We are still trading and won’t turn anyone away, hopefully we can pick ourselves back up.”
West Mercia Police confirmed officers are investigating the burglaries at the shopping outlet and are asking anyone with information or may have seen suspicious activity to call them on 101 quoting incident number 183S of February 25.
