THESE pictures show how a daring gang tunnelled their way into a jewellers from a neighbouring shop but fled empty-handed after setting off the alarm.
Would-be burglars burrowed their way into Preston’s Rolex store from the Rise café next door on Water Lane on Wednesday evening.
The café owner said she was shocked to discover a hole had been drilled through her kitchen wall.
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She spoke to the Guardian about the extensive damage the break-in caused to her property.
A big digging machine, tools and drills were left strewn on the floor, she said, after the intruders scarpered when they triggered the jewellery shop alarm.
Police were called at 11.35pm and found that unknown offenders had entered the jewellers via a tunnel.
“It was terrible,” said the shocked cafe owner. “You can’t imagine anyone doing this.
“They came from the back yard and smashed the door to get in.
“They drilled through the wall and made a big hole. They left loads of tools behind.
“They broke my plumbing, the fridge and my alarm and caused £10,000 worth of damage to my property.
“They took £1,200 from my till.”
The break-in happened at around 9pm on April 26.
The café owner said the burglars drilled a tunnel in the wall of her kitchen, leading to a room at the back of the jewellery showroom.
“The tunnel was about three feet long, if you bent over you could crawl to the other side,” she said.
“There was a lot of mess. They broke my security camera and my door.
“It’s a nightmare.”
She was unable to open the café the following day until after lunch as the police spent almost six hours examining the crime scene and gathering evidence.
The café owner opened the family business seven months ago and serves breakfast and lunch every day from 7.30am to 4.30pm.
Customers can sit outside on tables and chairs.
“My sister and brother work with me,” she said. “It is very hard but we are happy here.
“All of this is very bad for my business.”
Police are appealing for witnesses and video footage.
Enquiries are ongoing.
Detective Sergeant Robert McCubbin said: “The investigation is in its early stages and we are committed to doing all we can to identify the people responsible.
“The jewellers are located in a busy part of Wilmslow town centre and as part of our investigation we’re keen to hear from anyone who was in the area between 10.30pm and 11.30pm and believes they may have seen anything suspicious.
“The same goes for anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage which may aid our investigation.”
Anyone with information should call Cheshire Police on 101 contact via cheshire.police.uk/tell-us, quoting IML 1533656.
Information can also be reported anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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