Shop keeper recovering from cancer op speaks of 'shock' at raid
By Dan Whiteway • Published 18 Sep 2012 07:30
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A CHEMIST has spoken of his shock and sadness after his business was the target of a robbery just days after he underwent a skin cancer operation.
The C J Reid chemist and off-licence in High Street, Eton, was broken into on Sunday evening at around 9pm, with the robbers making off with more than £350 worth of cigarettes.
Douglas Hill, owner of the store since 1988, described his shock at the scene greeting him when he entered his business on Monday morning.
Mr Hill, who underwent the operation on Wednesday last week and is currently confined to a wheelchair as a result, said: "We came in on Monday and saw they had jimmied open the door to the off-licence and smashed the doorframe, which was severely damaged.
"We have had break-ins before, but recently, so we thought, we were relatively immune to it here so it was a bit of a shock."
The alarm system at the chemist went off when the break-in occurred and Mr Hill believes the sound of the alarm prevented the culprits from taking more goods from the store.
The 74-year-old has taken extra precautions since the break-in to attempt to protect the business, where he has worked for more than 30 years. Mr Hill said: "The door has been repaired and reinforced and the locks have been reinforced too. It's just a case of trying to carry on as normal."
A Thames Valley Police spokeswoman said: "We have CCTV footage of two offenders running away from the chemist and we also wish to get in
contact with a witness who gave chase to the offenders after the incident.
"We urge anyone with any information to get in touch with the officer investigating the case, PC Pankhania of the Windsor station, who can be contacted on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
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