Police are appealing for information and issuing a warning to residents following a burglary at Leppards Butchers in Crowborough.
Staff at the Croft Road store came in on Tuesday morning (20th December) to find entry had been forced to the rear of the property overnight. The suspects had broken the tills and stolen kitchen equipment, high-value meat, and food products from inside.
Inspector Lauren Buck of Wealden Police said:
We would ask if anyone notices any meat being sold on any local Facebook pages or groups, that this is reported to police, and to be cautious of purchasing any meat from unknown sellers.
Insp Buck
On their Facebook page, Leppards Butchers shared photos and said:
Thanks to some no good scum bags who thought they’d smash their way through the back & burgle our shop.
Leppards Butchers on Facebook
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These thieves have stolen tens of thousands of pounds of meat, smashed the tills to bits & even stolen our knives. Some of which are sentimental & irreplaceable.
Leppards Butchers are reassuring customers who have placed Christmas orders that their requests will still be fulfilled.
If you saw or heard anything suspicious that might help Sussex Police with their investigation, you can contact them online or by calling 101, quoting serial 149 of 20/12.
Inspector Buck said that officers will be visiting other local businesses to offer crime prevention advice:
Officers have been out on patrol, conducting enquiries, and speaking to many local businesses in the North Wealden area. If you saw or heard anything in the small hours of the night that you think we need to know about, please tell us.
Local officers will also be visiting a number of other local businesses to offer reassurance and crime prevention advice in the lead up to Christmas; we know you have invested a great deal of time, energy, and money in your business premises, please take the time to check your security measures.
Insp Buck
I understand Leppards’ frustration and anger. What a horrible thing to happen just before Christmas. They are a well known and popular outlet in the town. Of particular chagrin must be the theft of those knives and tools belonging to the staff. Butchers, chefs and others often have favourite and special tools that they keep for life. Lets hope these criminals are caught before those tools are used for some terrible purpose, and that the shop is up and running again soon.