Shop owners moved by support after store break-in

Two shop owners said they have been moved by the support they received from the community after £3,500 worth of goods were stolen from their store.

Chris and Caroline Woollam's winter sports shop, Odyssey, in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, was broken into on Friday at about 21:30 GMT.

Suffolk Police said it has made two arrests related to the incident.

Mr and Mrs Woollam said the support they had received from customers and other independent business has been "heartwarming".

"It is very hard to comprehend... it is not something you expect to happen," Mr Woollam said.

"I went to bed as I was preparing for a very busy weekend. I got a call that someone had witnessed the break-in."

"The timing is never going to be ideal, but [the fact it is Christmas] it made it very hard," Mr Woollam continued.

"Customers have asked about us, which has been heartwarming."

Mrs Woollam added that she had been left in tears when customers had come to check on them on Saturday and said the community response had been "amazing".

The couple, who have owned the shop for the past 19 years, said the police had been "brilliant and very responsive" and they were updating their security systems.

A spokesperson for Suffolk Police said the force was investigating the break-in and had arrested and interviewed two men on Friday.

One was arrested on suspicion of burglary and released under investigation, while the other was arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary and bailed until 9 February.

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