A thief used a "picnic table as a battering ram" during a break-in at an East Belfast pet supplies store where money and charity boxes were stolen.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, December 4, someone entered the rear garden of Murphy & Bailey Pet Supplies on Belmont Road before breaking through the glass in its back door and raiding the tills and taking four charity boxes.
The incident took place just hours after the store had finished trading from a very popular Small Business Saturday.
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The break-in resulted in the shop and some of the items being covered in glass and the store is taking extra care to ensure that it and all of its goods have been cleaned in order to protect any pets coming in in the future.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Karen Breen, co-owner of Murphy & Bailey said they were very saddened by the break-in at their store on Sunday and had been overwhelmed by the kind and supportive response from the local community and their customers following it.
She said: "On Saturday we had a very busy day taking part in Small Business Saturday on Belmont Road and were very disheartened when we were woken in the middle of the night to hear that our store had been broken into.
"In the early hours of the morning, someone climbed over into our back garden area and used one of the picnic tables as a battering ram to break through our security glass and door and make their way inside. They then raided our tills and stole four charity boxes for Rosie's Trust, Assisi and a local cat sanctuary.
"Due to the damage the person did to the door, our shop was covered in glass and we have had to take extra care to ensure that it will be fully removed so as not to injure any animal or person coming into our shop.
"However, while it has been upsetting that this has taken place, the response that we have received from the local community, our customers and staff has been incredible. Everyone was down on Sunday morning helping us clean so we were able to open that afternoon and we have received hundreds of messages from people wishing us well and sending their support.
"It will probably take us a week before everything is back to normal and we would just like to thank everyone who has offered their help and support to us over the past couple of days."
Police are appealing for information following the incident on Belmont Road.
Sergeant Foster said: “Police received a report shortly after 3.30am on Sunday, 4th December of a burglary on the Belmont Road.
“Damage had been caused to the back door of the property and glass panelling had been smashed.
“A till was also damaged during the burglary and a sum of cash was taken from the premises. Our enquiries are now underway to determine what happened.
“We would appeal to anyone who may have been in the area at the time and saw any suspicious activity, or has any dash-cam footage, to get in touch with us on the non-emergency 101 number, quoting reference number 318 of 04/12/22.
"Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/
"You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/."
If you would like more information about Murphy & Bailey Pet Supplies, please follow this link.
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