‘There are bad people in the world’, says burglary victim

The owner of Samuel Parker in Middle Street told the County Times ‘I’ve had enough’ following the raid earlier this month.

Thieves broke-in by cutting out a window at the bottom of a rear door in Colletts Alley between 5pm on Saturday 3 and 9.30am on Monday March 5.

Expensive Moorcroft dishes, plates, vases, clocks and plaques were then swiped from glass cabinets which had been jimmied open.

The burglary is the latest in a string of targeted raids at the family run business since June last year.

“There are bad people in the world, always has been and always will be,” said Mike Cockerill, owner of the town centre store with has been trading for around 20 years.

“They didn’t pinch anything else, they’re specifically targeting the Moorcroft. It’s collectable, specialist and precious, with some pieces retailing in the thousands.

“We discovered the window out in the door and a significant amount of Moorcroft pinched that morning. You know how we must have felt.

“I’ve had enough of it.”

The trader believes these crooks may be professional.

He continued: “These are pretty pro burglars - they’ve cased the shop and targeted the pottery. It’s not someone walking by drunk.

“Whether it’s the same people or not we don’t know.

“There’s been a few shadowy figures and people wearing balaclavas spotted on the town CCTV but nothing else.”

But despite the spate of burglaries, the victim commented firmly that his business will not be pushed out of Horsham.

“We enjoy working here, we look forward to coming in every day,” he said, “it’s a huge part of our life and we won’t let this stop us.

“We go through highs and lows. The lows are when you think of the people who did this but we’ve got to try and move forward now.

“We’re determined and we’re powering on.”

The owner added: “The people helping us through this have been marvellous. A number of people have gone out their way and that is appreciated.”

PC Natalie Steward, of Horsham Police, said: “Many items of this type are specialist with limited edition numbers to them making them uniquely identifiable.

“Devastatingly for the owners, the shop has now been targeted three times since June 2011 with Moorcroft being the items stolen each time.

“If anyone has any information regarding this incident or knows of person/s who are attempting to sell these or similar items, please contact Sussex Police immediately on 101 quoting serial 0254 March 5, alternatively call anonymously Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”