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Tenterden shop Bond Street to Your Street in Tenterden raided and designer bags stolen

CCTV shows the moment burglars stole £30,000 worth of stock from a fashion shop in an overnight smash-and-grab.

A man has been arrested after Bond Street to Your Street in Tenterden was targeted during the early-morning raid.

The front of the fashion store was boarded up after three men smashed a glass window to enter the High Street building and take designer ware.

It is the latest in a long string of incidents to blight the much-loved shop, leaving owner Emma Pinfold once again questioning its future in the town.

This is the fourth overnight break-in within the last three years, and Ms Pinfold says there have also been around 11 incidents of shoplifting.

"This latest one was very much smash and grab, but it looked like they knew what they were doing," Ms Pinfold explained.

"They went in through the front window and were in there for three-and-a-half minutes. During that time, they cleaned the place out.

Bond Street to Your Street was broken into overnight. Photo: Sue Ferguson
Bond Street to Your Street was broken into overnight. Photo: Sue Ferguson

"I had chains on all of the bags since the last incident but they came with wire cutters."

A police spokesman said that the men had made off with around £30,000 worth of goods - mostly designer bags - which Ms Pinfold said was "at the very minimum".

"I would say it was that and more," she added.

Following another shocking incident in February, where a man assaulted a member of staff after being caught stuffing a handbag into his backpack, the owner of the family-run chain was left wondering if she should up sticks.

Now, she says she is being forced to ponder the same question.

Forensic teams outside the Bond Street to Your Street in Tenterden. Photo: Sue Ferguson
Forensic teams outside the Bond Street to Your Street in Tenterden. Photo: Sue Ferguson

"Of course it makes me question whether I want to stay on," she said.

"It takes six months to recover by the time the insurance has paid out, my mental health and that of the staff gets back, we've restocked the shop and so on... then six months we get done again.

"I woke up today and said this is it, but we have a shan't-be-beaten attitude that we have so we will have to wait and see."

Following the raid early on Tuesday morning, police identified a suspect vehicle and tracked it down to an address in Folkestone.

A police spokesman added: "A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary and has been released on bail while investigations continue."

Three men broke into Bond Street to Your Street in Tenterden
Three men broke into Bond Street to Your Street in Tenterden
Kent Police moved to reassure Tenterden residents following a spate of thefts in the town. Photo: Kent Police
Kent Police moved to reassure Tenterden residents following a spate of thefts in the town. Photo: Kent Police

The day following the incident, Kent Police tweeted images to show an increased police presence in the area to "reassure residents, patrons and visitors to this wonderful town and prevent any further offences in Tenterden".

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