A well-known Andover business has been targeted in a brazen daytime theft after a cash drawer was ripped from beneath the counter and stolen while the front of the shop was briefly empty.
Ben’s Quality Dry Cleaners, on Union Street in Andover, was targeted on Monday morning, August 24, leaving owner Ben Walton shocked by the apparent boldness of the theft.
According to the business, the thief waited until the front of the shop was unoccupied before leaning over the counter and forcibly removing the cash drawer from underneath it.
The drawer was taken from the premises along with its contents.
It was subsequently recovered elsewhere, but had been damaged beyond repair and the cash inside was gone.
While the financial loss from the stolen money is understood to be relatively small, Mr Walton said the incident had left him stunned that somebody would carry out such a theft in broad daylight.
He told Love Andover: “In shock at the brazenness of someone who would wait till the front of the shop was empty and lean over the counter and rip the cash drawer out, in broad daylight!
“The financial loss is minimal as cash isn’t as popular as it was and the majority of our transactions are on card. The cost of a new drawer will be more than the cash inside!
“It will sadly cause some inconvenience for our customers as we won’t be able to take cash till we have a new drawer, but I’m hoping that won’t be long.
“The police response was superb and the kind words of support from the amazing people of Andover has been phenomenal.”
Warning to other Andover businesses
Following the theft, Ben’s Quality Dry Cleaners issued a warning to fellow business owners and shopkeepers to remain vigilant, describing the brazenness of the incident as “unbelievable”.
Despite the upsetting circumstances, Mr Walton also praised neighbouring businesses and people on Union Street for providing information and support in the immediate aftermath.
There was no CCTV covering the theft itself, according to information supplied to Love Andover. However, there may potentially be CCTV footage from the area where the discarded cash drawer was later recovered.
Police are understood to be investigating the incident.
The theft serves as a reminder to businesses that even relatively small amounts of cash can make premises a target and that opportunistic thefts can happen quickly, including during normal opening hours.
For Ben’s Quality Dry Cleaners, the immediate impact will be disruption rather than a significant loss of cash, with customers temporarily unable to make cash payments until a replacement drawer can be installed.
Mr Walton said the response from both police and the Andover community following the incident had been phenomenal.