An independent restaurant cannot afford to stay closed after it was “ransacked” by a thief, the owner has said.

Mahesh Sharma arrived at work on Monday morning to find the front door of Kesarum smashed open.

Mahesh, the owner of the popular independent Indian restaurant on the High Street, then found a man inside.

“The front door was smashed, and this man had ransacked our bar”, he said.

A confrontation ensued and Mahesh said the man “seemed compliant” but made a dash for the back door when police arrived. 

Shortly after, a man climbed up East Street car park in what turned into a near three-hour stand off before he eventually climbed down.

The arrested man at East Street car park, Southampton The arrested man at East Street car park, Southampton (Image: Newsquest) Mahesh has been left to clear up the pieces ahead of a challenging period for the hospitality industry.

He said: “It seems as though the thief helped himself to vodka and he rummaged through the kitchen, and broke some of the bottles downstairs.

“He also smashed the back door when he tried to escape police.

“This is the first time something like this has happened and it’s hard for us as an independent business.

“We have to board it up immediately, but as a restaurant we’ve got to carry on.

“We can’t stay shut for extended periods.”

Sarah Bogle, ward councillor for Bargate and cabinet member for economic development, described the break-in as “terrible”.

She said: “I hope that Kesarum can recover from this.

"It is a very difficult time especially as it is the New Year period, which is important for smaller restaurants who work hard.

“The council works with GO! Southampton and there is a big focus directed towards crime against businesses.

“There has been a lot of work done, alongside the police, to support businesses against such crimes.”

A police cordon was in place on Back of the Walls, the neighbouring road to East Street car park, on Monday morning.

Firefighters, paramedics, and police officers were at the scene.

The man climbed down a ladder at around 11.40am and the road was reopened to motorists and pedestrians by midday.

A 30-year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of burglary and remains in police custody.