Laptop with sentimental photos among £8,000 worth of equipment stolen from Ludlow tattoo studio
A laptop holding sentimental photos were among the £8,000 worth of equipment stolen in an overnight burglary at a tattoo studio.
Craven Ink, in Ludlow, was targeted by thieves on the same night that three charity shops in the town were broken into.
The burglars smashed through a window to gain entry to the shop before helping themselves to pricey tattoo guns, laptops and a tin of petty cash.
When studio owner Noddy Goffin took a call on Friday morning from one of the neighbouring premises, to say his shop window had been broken, he was not prepared for what he was about to find.
He said: "I looked through the window and saw all the cupboards were open, I just couldn't believe the mess they had made.
"They have destroyed a brand new work station and absolutely trashed the place."
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The burglary came as even more of a shock as the studio is located in Valentine's Walk, an alleyway secured with iron gates overnight.
Unable to breakthrough the locks on the main gates, the thieves resorted to climbing over the gates, which limited what they were able to steal.
Noddy said: "The police got forensics in and when they had left they said to go through and see what was gone.
"They have taken tattoo machines, laptops and other small stuff, things that were easy to nick.
"In a way we have been quite lucky, they could have really wiped us out but they have left all the flat screen TVs and bigger things."
Noddy said the worst part of the theft was the fact the laptops contained design work, as well as treasured family photos and videos, which were not backed up elsewhere, meaning they could be lost forever unless the laptop is recovered by police.
He has also been left wondering whether the culprits were people who had previously been into the shop and took note of the expensive equipment.
"I keep going over it in my head," he said. "Everyone I tattoo I get on really well with, and I would like to think I haven't got any enemies."
Noddy said the true extent of what was stolen was not yet known as he "just had to get out of there" after tidying up – but he estimates around £8,000 worth of machinery and computer equipment was taken.
As well as Craven Ink, the Oxfam, Cancer Research UK and Blue Cross charity shops were also raided in the early hours of Friday.
Noddy said: "Targeting a business is one thing but to hit charity shops you have got to be the lowest of the low."
He hopes to have the shop back up and running by the end of the week, in order to honour bookings.
West Mercia Police is continuing to appeal for information over the four incidents. Anyone with information is urged to call 101.
