FRIENDS and members of the community have been supporting a Post Office after a break-in at the popular village store.
Enham Village Store and Post Office, based in Enham Alamein was targeted in an overnight break-in on Monday, November 13.
As previously reported, police were called at 1.32am to reports of a burglary at the post office, with a large quantity of cigarettes reported stolen.
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Police have been continuing with enquiries but said that no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting the reference number 44230463363.
Despite the insurance paying in full, the amount was not enough to cover the cost of the damages and lost stock. As a result, Ann-Marie Haggar, who is a friend of owners Leslie and Tim Francis, who run the store, has set up a GoFundMe page to try to recoup some of the money lost.
Ann-Marie said: "Tim and Leslie would never ask for any kind of financial help, instead, they have just asked people to use the store more and encourage others to do so too.
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"I think we can do better than that. Every penny will help towards making up the shortfall so please, if you can only spare as much as you would spend on a takeaway coffee, let's show these amazing people how much we appreciate them and all they do for us."
Leslie said: "People were rightly upset and appalled by the break-in we experienced here, but the community have been so supportive of us and we really can't thank them enough.
"A friend set up a GoFundMe page but we're just asking people to think of us and if and when they can, utilise our shop and Post Office. A lot of people already have and we really appreciate it.
"For someone to take the time out of their day to set up a donation page for us is lovely and shows how supported we are by our lovely community. We also had someone write us a poem following the burglary, which was very well received by us all at the shop."
The poem can be read here.
The burglary also marred recent celebrations at the shop with Leslie and Tim's 19-year anniversary, which took place on Saturday, November 25.
Reflecting back on the past 19 years, Leslie said: "It should have been a day of celebration, but unfortunately the break-in sort of overshadowed the anniversary day.
"Despite that, we put a post on Facebook to mark the occasion, and just want to say we are so pleased and proud to have been a part of this community for 19 years, and hopefully many more."
Donations can be made to the GoFundMe at gofundme.com/f/37gq7qeoso.
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