POLICE are appealing for anyone with information about a break-in that took place at Hockridge Appliance Centre, Launceston, over the weekend to come forward, writes Rosie Cripps.

The family-run business, Hockridge Appliance Centre, located at Pennygillam Industrial Estate in Launceston, was broken into over the weekend of November 19 and 20, with the offence thought to have occurred during the early hours of Sunday morning.

Much of the damage occurred outside of the premises, with both front passenger windows of the blue transit delivery van having been smashed with a stone, with one of the doors also badly damaged in the process.

It is thought that the person/persons attempted to see if there was anything of value that they could take from the vehicle, but failed as staff rarely leave anything in the van.

As well as this, a window of the warehouse, facing the Pennygillam roundabout, was also smashed, revealing metal bars, which were also eventually broken into. A slim hob was taken from inside the premises through the broken window, but it was not taken away. Instead, it was thrown on the ground and left it there to be found in the lighter hours of the morning.

According to police, approximately £1,000 of damage was caused to the van, with a further £150 caused to the hob and £100 to the window of the warehouse.

Perhaps a fortunate aspect to the case was that the person/persons involved, left a considerable amount of blood behind, after smashing the windows of the van.

This has been used for DNA tests, which, according to owner, Karl Hockridge, should take approximately two to three weeks to come back.

Business has been able to go on as usual, according to Mr Hockridge, although he explained to the Post that there was a lot of work to be done on the Sunday to get ready for the following working day.

In the meantime, Sprys of Launceston — also located at Pennygillam Industrial Estate — have kindly lent the business a van until their own vehicle undergoes the appropriate repairs.

Mr Hockridge said: “I left a little post on Facebook after the break in, and that has received quite a lot of respondents. I’d like to thank the public for their engagement at this time.

“Someone would have gone home in the early hours of the morning with blood on their hands, arms and clothing. If anyone noticed or notices anything suspicious about anybody, please think about what they were doing that night, and report anything to the police.”

The police have asked that anyone with information contact them via email on [email protected] or call 101, quoting reference CR/082199/16.