Owners of burgled Lavenham wine bar frustrated by police response

The owner of a wine bar and restaurant targeted by burglars has voiced his frustration over a perceived lack of response by police.

Number Ten in Lady Street, Lavenham, was broken in to on the evening of Bank Holiday Monday.

Owners Rod Benson and wife Joanna Knight opened their restaurant the next morning to find the back door unlocked.

Thousands of pounds in takings had been stolen from the safe, along with money from the staff’s tips jar.

“The place was ransacked and all the money was gone,” said Mr Benson.

After reporting the crime to police, he was later informed that neither a forensic team or police officers were available to visit the restaurant to investigate the burglary, which angered Mr Benson.

“They were not that fussed,” he said. “They didn’t have the time or inclination to send anyone out.”

The burglary – the second time Number Ten has been targeted in six months – has had a financial impact on the business.

“We are a small business, so these things are crippling,” said Mr Benson.

“It’s very upsetting for my wife and I and the staff. The property has been violated by someone who shouldn’t have been here.”

The burglar gained entry to a locked desk, leading Mr Benson to believe it was not an amateur who broke in.

“There was no damage so we are looking at either a professional or a locksmith,” he said.

In November, thieves stole a number of expensive bottles of alcohol, including champagne and port, after breaking into the business.

Mr Benson pointed out that the village may seem an unlikely location for such crime, but said it had been a target of other incidents in recent months.

“In sleepy Lavenham, you don’t expect much to go on,” he said. “But two Co-ops have been ram-raided and burglaries are rife.”

Mr Benson now plans to install a CCTV system to provide added security to the site, with the hope that it will act as a deterrent to further burglaries.

A spokesman for Suffolk Police said: “We were contacted just before 8.50am on Tuesday, May 8, after a report that a quantity of cash was taken.

“The victim was contacted by police to carry out inquiries and establish the circumstances of the incident. They were given crime prevention advice and encouraged to review security procedures.

“Further checks will also be made to ensure there are no further inquiries to be conducted.”