Chichester pub targeted by 'opportunistic' thieves

According to Sussex Police, two men are thought to have broken into a shed outside The Duke and Rye, in West Street, between 8.45pm and 9.30pm on Monday (February 8).

Assistant manager Laura Gibbs said she was 'shocked' to discover thieves had 'helped themselves to over half of our frozen food stock' on Thursday morning.

She said: "I walked up the stairs and thought it didn't look right.

"It's the audacity of these two men. It was a heavy padlock so it would have taken some going to get through it.

"The meat had just changed hands. We've been going there once a week to check on the place.

"We've been impacted all year because of Covid [and] this is going to cost us another £320 not counting the profits we would have made and the repairs to the gates.

"They took one of our food waste bins and opened and rummaged through quite a few boxes. The total loss is around the £400 mark."

Laura said the thieves targeted the pub 'knowing there was no one on site'.

"It was very opportunistic," she said. "We didn't discover it until three days afterwards.

"It's been a nightmare. I understand and appreciate that a lot of people are struggling but it still doesn't give you the right to break-in somewhere and take what isn't yours.

"I think we will bounce back when we reopen but we will have to take extra measures."

In a social media appeal, Laura added: "If you are a pub owner in Chichester with stock storage outside, please stay vigilant and safe."

Anyone who saw what happened, or who has seen any suspicious behaviour in the area around this time, is asked to contact Sussex Police online or by calling 101 quoting serial 536 of 11/02.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.