A tattoo artist has told of her upset after burglars smashed their way into her business and raided the safe.

Eastern Daily Press: Indigo Piercing and Tattoo in Lower Goat Lane was burgled. Pictured: Gemma Gold, owner of Indigo.Indigo Piercing and Tattoo in Lower Goat Lane was burgled. Pictured: Gemma Gold, owner of Indigo. (Image: Archant)

More than £1,000 was stolen from Indigo Piercing and Tattoo, in Lower Goat Lane, Norwich, this week.

Gemma Gold, who owns the studio, said intruders climbed onto a flat roof from the outdoor bin area then smashed a first floor window to gain access.

They forced open a hidden safe and made off with more than £1,000 in takings, staff wages, and charity donations, and the business had to shut for a day while damage was repaired.

It happened between 6.30pm on Wednesday and around 10am the next day.

Ms Gold said the crime had hit the business hard, and has decided to put in more security measures including bars on the windows, security lights and more CCTV.

'These criminals don't realise the knock-on effects of what they've done,' she said. 'If you triple what's stolen that's nearer the cost to us.

'It's really upsetting and I have to console my staff that their stuff is safe.

'Into the winter when we're tattooing into the dark hours, it has a knock-on effect.'

Eight people work at Indigo, and the receptionist who arrived on Thursday raised the alarm after spotting the empty safe ripped from the floor and smashed glass strewn across a treatment room.

'The police were amazing,' said Ms Gold. 'They were here straight away.

'The receptionist knew not to touch anything.'

She said she suspected the burglars did not know where the safe was as they had rifled through belongings, scattering paperwork around, but left iPods, computers and expensive tattooing equipment behind.

'It's obvious they were after one thing,' she added. 'I don't know if someone tipped them off, but I think it's people who are used to doing this.'

The business, which has four treatment rooms, has been trading for more than 10 years.

'It's really tough,' said Ms Gold. 'I've had good years and really bad years.

'I was stolen from before when I first opened and even £50 going missing from a small business can affect it.

'But we're really happy with the support everyone has showed us on social media, saying how disgusting it is and that they hope the people who did it are found.

'It's making people aware.'

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.