An independent wine and cheese shop in Croydon has been devastated after burglars broke in, stole wine, and caused thousands of pounds in damage. The owners of Little Mouse in South Norwood, Gareth Main, 42, and Justina Budd, 41, arrived at their Selhurst Road store on the morning of Thursday, July 16, to find a window smashed and the interior ransacked.
Burglary Details
The owners received a phone call from a neighbour at 4:45 am reporting that three men were in the building. According to Gareth and Justina, the thieves targeted the store, kicked in the window frame, and stole a large quantity of wine, smashing many bottles in the process. When the couple arrived just after 5 am, they found glass and wine everywhere, with the floor sticky and covered in footprints. They had to wait several hours for police to arrive and investigate.
Financial Impact
Gareth and Justina emphasized that the burglary came at a particularly difficult time for the business. "We have no backers, we are independently run, we are self-funded. It's really hard in July; it's a tough time for this to happen, cheese is very seasonal as it happens, our busiest time is Christmas. We couldn't be further away from that cash flow, and our tax bills are coming out soon as well, so it's been a really inopportune time for this to happen," they said. The shop does not take cash, and while the street value of the stolen wine is low, the costs to the business are substantial.
Community Support
Despite the vandalism, the owners have been overwhelmed by the support from the community. The day after the burglary, the store was busier than ever, with customers showing solidarity. "The support has been phenomenal. We started Little Mouse because we live in South Norwood, and we wanted our business in South Norwood. What has happened has made us realise that people want this here as well," they added. They noted that people feel a sense of ownership over the shop and view the attack as an attack on the community.
Police Investigation
A Met Police spokesperson confirmed that a report of burglary at the premises on Selhurst Road has been received, with the incident occurring overnight between Wednesday, July 15 and Thursday, July 16. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD1775/16JUL26.
