The owner of The Galley Restaurant in Woodbridge which was broken into overnight has said it was a “waste of time” targeting his business which had been closed for over a week since New Year’s Day.
A till containing around £100 of cash was stolen and “extensive damage” was caused to the restaurant in Market Hill.
Owner Ugur Vata said he was alerted to the break-in by his security system at 4am this morning.
He said: “I could not see anything on my remote control cameras. Then an hour later my alarm went off again. I looked again and could see somebody in the bar area. I could not see exactly what he was doing but I immediately called the police and they were here within three to four minutes.
“They were here so quick. I cannot praise them enough. Whatever people say about the police and NHS in Suffolk, we are lucky to have them.
“But while I was talking to the police control room before police got here, this guy disappeared from the camera, and he was not caught.
“Whoever did it took the whole till and the side printer which prints the bills, and there is very extensive damage to this listed building. They smashed through the front door. It was a smash and grab.
“It is quite frustrating. It is a waste of people’s time. We don’t want this gloomy news. I am very upset. How do we stop these people? I have the best security system.
“The irony is that, since New Year’s Day, we were closed for nine days. We reopened yesterday and only had a handful of people. All of them paid by card. We had 80 customers on Christmas Day and not one person paid cash. People only pay by card these days really.
“Whoever did it needs to get a life. There is plenty of work around. They should get a new skill. This is not a skill. This will not take them anywhere in life. It’s a great shame. What a waste of their life. They can get all the help they need and have a new life. It was especially damaging to my livelihood.”
He said he plans to open the restaurant at lunchtime, and will be “definitely” open tonight.
A Suffolk Constabulary spokesman confirmed the details of the break-in. Anyone with any information about the incident is urged to call police on 101 quoting crime reference number: 2017/18.
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