-
‘It was heartbreaking’
-
Told by cops to ‘email evidence’
-
Southampton restaurant owner says police delayed response after vandals stole cash, liquor; investigation underway
Ankit Vaghela, an Indian-origin restaurant owner in Southampton, UK, was left frustrated after police allegedly told him to “email CCTV footage” instead of visiting his restaurant immediately following a break-in. His eatery, ‘Padharo’, was targeted on July 31, with vandals smashing liquor bottles, stealing expensive alcohol, and taking cash from the register, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Owner finds clue himself after burglary; police say investigation continues without immediate site visit.
Vaghela, upon reviewing the CCTV footage himself, found his stolen cash register—minus the money—abandoned on a nearby road, along with broken liquor bottles
“It was very heartbreaking to be told that officers will review the damage in three to five working days and that no forensics was available at the time,” he said. He added that despite the damage, the restaurant remained determined to keep serving customers, even while operating without a proper cash register.
Hampshire Police stated they did not underestimate the case but determined an immediate site visit was unnecessary since the offenders were no longer at the scene. “Every deployment decision is based on risk assessments to prioritise serious cases,” the force said, adding that CCTV review and other enquiries are ongoing. They also appealed to the public for any information related to the burglary.
