Police appeal after Honiton pet store targeted by thieves

Owners of a family-run pet store in Honiton have issued a warning to other businesses after their premises was targeted in a burglary over the weekend.

Slades, located on Heathpark Industrial Estate, was discovered broken into this morning (Sept 28) - with extensive damage caused to the property.

Money, a safe, worming products and flea and tick treatment are reported to have been stolen in the raid.

Sarah Scott-Allen, who runs the shop with her husband Peter, told Honiton Nub News: "We are pretty hacked off about it to be honest.

"We're a little family-run pet shop, which has managed to stay open throughout the pandemic, and now we are having to deal with another upheaval.

"It's not just the money, it's the principal."

Peter said: "We sincerely apologise to our customers, but this is going to take a good two or three days to get ourselves operational again and to reopen our doors.

"We will let everyone know as soon as we can."

Sarah added: "It was particularly frustrating, and upsetting, that some of the money collected for my recent head-shave for Macmillan Cancer Support was also taken.

"It was money donated by our generous customers in a collection box, which I had only just transferred to the safe that was taken.

"They didn't touch the other charity boxes we have in the shop, so I wish I had left it now."

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police are investigating a burglary at a pet supplies store in Gloucester Crescent on the Heathpark Industrial Estate in Honiton, which happened sometime between 1pm on Saturday 26 September and 8.55am on Monday 28 September.

"A quantity of cash, a safe and worming products were stolen from the premises."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, or email [email protected], quoting crime reference CR/081724/20.