A NEW designer shop in Princes Avenue has been burgled, just weeks after opening.
Thieves smashed through the shop door window of Bob Greens in the early hours of yesterday morning, taking £2,500 worth of stock.
The shop has only been open for five weeks.
However, owners Paul Monkman and Lee Baker have spent nine months setting it up at a cost of thousands of pounds.
Co-owner Paul said: "It's been a nightmare.
"We've worked hard to set it up and we didn't need this to start with."
Paul and Lee have been in partnership for 12 years and it has cost them £70,000 just to set up the shop.
The designer shop sells men's clothing and each item stolen was worth more than £100.
The thieves struck around 4.15am and gained access by forcing open the store's metal shutter and smashing the glass using a paving slab.
The burglar alarm was triggered shortly after the break-in and Humberside Police arrived.
Officers found blood left on the shattered glass and Paul is optimistic about catching the culprits.
He said: "If they've done this before, they've got their DNA now."
Co-owner Lee Baker lives in a flat above the shop and heard the break-in.
He said: "I heard loud banging but thought it was the newsagent's opening next door.
"Then I heard the alarm going off."
Lee rushed down using the outside staircase but thieves had locked the exit gate.
Co-owner Paul said he thought the thieves were "opportunists" and left in a hurry.
He said: "There were polo shirts dropped in the street. They just took the first shelves they saw."
Paul said they do not know when the shop will receive replacement stock.
New shutters will be fitted and the window will be replaced this week, which will cost hundreds of pounds.
Paul said: "It's a real labour of love.
"We're going to make it so it doesn't happen again.
Lee said the burglary had been a blow.
"We lose a day's business, which is a shame, but we'll recover."
Humberside Police are seeking witnesses to the burglary.
Anyone with information should call 101, quoting crime ref 1971492.
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