This is the devastating damage caused to an Eston optician’s after it was targeted by burglars trying to gain access to a pawn shop next door.
Police were called to Eston High Street at 3.30am yesterday following reports of a break-in at Ramsdens and the neighbouring Hall Opticians.
On arrival they found a large door-size hole at the back of the building going into the opticians as well as a large hole in the adjoining wall between the two businesses where Ramsdens’ safe was situated.
Hall Opticians business manager, who did not want to be named, said she arrived on site at 6am.
“It’s just devastating,” she said. “When I got here I was crying my eyes out. When I think of all the hard work to build up the business.
“This is a small family-owned business.
“It looks like they’ve used a sledgehammer.
“Once the bricks fell into Ramsdens’ side of the wall their alarm went off.”
The small float was taken from the optician’s till but nothing else was stolen from either business in the raid.
“They have done all of that damage - we have to have two walls built again, re-plastered and painted - for nothing,” she added.
“There is thousands of pounds’ worth of structural damage.
“We have to replace all the stands for the frames, replace the frames and computers.
“They threw the till drawer and a laptop in the back alley. All the customers’ database was on it so we couldn’t even contact anyone to explain about their appointments.”
She added that thankfully the optical equipment which was in another room and had not been damaged.
More than 25 customers’ appointments had to be postponed and it is not yet known when the business can reopen.
“I would like to apologise to all of our customers for any inconvenience caused and we will try to move appointments to our Redcar branch or reschedule,” she added.
The optician’s, which employs 10 staff across the two branches, was only refurbished in 2011.
Ramsdens declined to comment.
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