Wickham Stream Salon owner fearful after business targeted by thieves

Stream Salon, in The Square, Wickham, was the target of a smash and grab early on Saturday, February 1.

The thieves stole a till, estimated to be worth £100, as well as approximately £65 in cash.

Owner Lorraine Edwards said that she and her partner were in the flat above when they were woken up by burglars kicking in the front door of the listed building.

She said: “We were awoken by glass smashing, and I stuck my head out the window very quickly. But unfortunately, from the way the salon front is designed, I couldn’t actually see below – I thought it was next door, in Hemings. I think I must have disturbed them.

CCTV screenshot showing the smash and grab (Image: Stream Salon) “They basically kicked the door, which caused the glass to smash at the front – it is a grade II listed building, so it doesn’t take much to kick in. They went straight to the desk where my till was underneath. I’ve only ever kept a float of £45 in there.

“The sad thing is the police didn’t come. I called at 3.15am, and they gave me a crime number and said nobody would be coming, could we secure the building. Well, I’m there in a dressing gown and we’ve got the whole shop exposed.”

While Ms Edwards said that her partner was able to patch up the door, the experience has left her scared that the thieves might return.

She said: “It was only on Sunday (February 2) that we discovered that they had attempted to crowbar the flat door, that was their first port of call, which has been unsettling for me because, if they had managed to get in there, we would have been sitting ducks in the flat.

“The police did not do anything. When we were cleaning up, a delivery driver came into The Square and asked what had happened. My partner said that we had called the police and nobody came, the driver asked ‘What time?’. We said, ‘3.15am’, and he had come over Hopes Hill, at that time, and there was a patrol car waiting for the joy riders”.

A police spokesperson said: “Officers are investigating following two reports of burglaries in Wickham.

 “We were called at 3.16am on Saturday, February 1 to a report of a break in at the Stream Hair and Beauty Salon in Wickham Square.

 “It was reported that doors to the shop had been damaged, and money stolen from inside.

 “We also received a report that someone had entered a garage in Station Road, Wickham at around the same time. Nothing was reported stolen.

 “The two incidents are being treated as linked and enquiries are ongoing.

 “Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting the reference number 44250047589.”

In response to Ms Edwards' complaints, the spokesperson said: “We take the issue of business burglary seriously and we know the effect it can have on victims.

“All reports that we receive are assessed based on threat, risk and harm, and factors taken into consideration for deployment include whether there is an immediate threat to life, as well as the resources available at any given time.

“Whilst officers did not attend at the time of the call, a crime scene examination was conducted at the premises later that morning. This incident is now being investigated by the Winchester Greater Neighbourhood Team and their enquiries are ongoing.”