A shopkeeper has vowed she “will not be beaten” after thieves trashed her shop and stole £8,000 of vintage clothing.
Andrea Martins said clothes were tugged from hangers in the raid which saw thieves smash their way in through the back door.
The 45-year-old opened Boko's Retro Clothing in Gorleston high street just before Christmas selling pre-loved men's clothes like Levi jeans, Fred Perry shirts and Doctor Martens.
But on Saturday (July 13), while she and husband Andrew were away on holiday, she was handed the bombshell news the shop had been targeted.
"I just wanted to come home," she said.
"They broke in through the back way and stole loads of stuff.
"They slung things about upstairs, probably looking for money, emptying the kitchen cupboards.
"Up to £8,000 of stock has gone."
She said her daughter, Courtney Wright, discovered the burglary when she opened up, alerting police who sent a forensic team to comb for evidence.
There was broken glass where raiders had smashed their way in and clothes and rails all over the floor.
Track suits, T-shirts and bags were among the haul, with bags of items neatly folded, but not yet priced up, also taken,
"I am absolutely gutted that someone can do that," she added.
"People say 'that's how people are now', but I'm not going to let them beat me.
"I came in yesterday and swept the glass up and got straight again.
"I cannot not trade - I still have the rent to pay."
Mrs Martins, who lives in Gorleston and has previously run a tanning shop, said all the items had been hand-picked from a supplier in Birmingham.
She said the thieves were likely to try and sell the clothes on, but that many of the pieces were distinctive for their rarity.
A spokesman for Norfolk Police confirmed a large amount of stock had been taken during the break-in which happened between 5pm on Friday July 12 and 8am the next day.
The shop is open as usual from today, Thursday July 18.
In April Junx in the high street was targeted by smash-and-grab thieves who got away with £1,000 of Adidas clothing.Anyone with information is asked to call officers on 101 quoting the reference 36/48250/19 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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