A SERIES of burglaries have recently taken place at various businesses and organisations on Belle Vue and Queen Street in Bude.

The burglaries are thought to have taken place during the night and early morning of Sunday, September 18 and Monday, September 19, and saw many businesses have cash from their tills, charity and tip boxes stolen, as well as retail goods. Damage was also caused.

The properties affected on Queen Street were Age Concern and the Bude branch of the British Red Cross. On Belle Vue, Barrel Rock Clothing, Taste of Cornwall and Four Seasons florists were victims of the burglaries.

The Bude branch of the charity, Age Concern had £50 taken from its safe.

Chairman, Tony Harper, said: “They didn’t do any damage, but they went into our safe and left it open, and took £50. They also took the front door keys and escaped through that route.”

He added jokingly: “They were almost quite gentlemanly about it!”

Although nothing valuable was taken, according to Tony, the burglary left a stir in the shop, with the shop assistants feeling rather unsettled on their return to work.

“We haven’t really wanted any help; we haven’t claimed insurance, because it was a rather small sum of money that was taken and we can build that up again, but we just hope it doesn’t happen again. It was just a shock really, it hasn’t happened before and I think the ladies on the shop floor were quite shocked by it.”

Perhaps one of the worst affected businesses on Belle Vue was Taste of Cornwall, which had cash in the till and the contents of charity boxes and tip jars stolen, amounting to £1,100.

The British Red Cross building on Queen Street was broken into. Nothing was stolen but an untidy search was made. Barrel Rock Clothing on Belle Vue had the door forced, and the burglars made away with £130 from the till, two pairs of sunglasses, a hooded jumper and four pairs of headphones that were priced at £40 each.

A florist from Four Seasons, which had £470 taken from the till, as well as bank cards and the removal of a fan light, said: “There wasn’t as much damage as such, they just took our money. I don’t even know where these people came from.”

Sophie Pillman, who recently took over the florists said: “They didn’t damage much luckily — they removed two flats of glass and went through my till; they didn’t break into it because they obviously knew how to get into it.

“I felt lovely and secure in my little shop, and now I’m constantly looking out for people watching me.”

She added: “I am also very disappointed that our two charity pots, which were there before I took over to fundraise for Sarah’s son [Talan Penny, the son of previous owner Sarah Penny] went missing. They took all of that. It was a very, very upsetting experience.”

Those with any information about the incidents that can help the police with their enquiries should email [email protected] or call 101, quoting log reference number CR/066369/16.

Information can also be given to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111.