Callous thieves ransack pet shop

THE aftermath of the break-in at Burnedge Mill

3 More Image(s) In Gallery

HEARTLESS thieves stole charity cash, a Christmas raffle prize and more than 250 kilograms of dog food when they broke into a High Crompton pet business.

Andi Jackson, owner of K9 Grooming Solutions, was shocked when she opened up her business on Thursday morning last week to find the premises, at Burnege Mill, New Broad Lane, ransacked.

And in a festive twist, the thieves used trousers from a Father Christmas costume to block the security light from alerting people to their presence.

Andi (44) said: "I couldn't believe it when I arrived.

"Everything had been trashed. The drawers were open and spread across the floor, there was mess everywhere, it was awful."

She added that the thieves gained entry to the property after breaking through a panel to make a small gap to enter the business and take the items, including 17 bags of dog food, weighing 15kg each, and the festive raffle prize ­- a box of dog treats, toys, and essentials.

After discovering the theft, Andi called the police and officers visited to investigate the break-in.

Andi said: "When they told me that it was Christmas trousers that were on the security light, I had to laugh, it was just so odd.

"But they've been taken for forensics along with a few other things so hopefully they might lead to the person who did this."

For Andi, who has run the pet grooming business for six years, it came just a month after she expanded to offer pet supplies.

She said: "They took my new till and the cash I'd collected for a raffle in aid of local animal charities.

"They even took the raffle prize.

"I don't know what to do now as I'd already collected money and we were due to announce a winner on Christmas Eve.

"It's just so annoying, especially to do it so close to Christmas when everyone is stocking up.

"I know it could have been worse as they didn't take most of my equipment. But I won't let it affect the business or let it get me down."