THE new manager of a shop has said recent break-ins have cost the business around £4,000 due to damage, stolen stock, and having to close for two days. 

Kidderminster's Geek Retreat, which sells board games, trading cards and Warhammer, has been hit twice by burglars in two weeks.

The more recent break-in was reported to the police on Wednesday morning (November 28), with the front door glass being smashed in overnight.

Jemma Briggeman, who recently became manager of the shop, has spoken of the "stressful experience" of dealing with the break-ins.

The team are heartbroken by the vandalismThe team are heartbroken by the vandalism (Image: Geek Retreat)

She said: "Last Monday was the first break-in - it was actually my first day.

"On both instances, it was a burglary. It's been quite a stressful experience.

"The team have all been fantastic. It's just such a shame because we pride ourselves on being an open community.

"It's really sad that someone has taken advantage of that.

"Both cases were overnight after the store had closed. When the doors are broken it's not safe to have customers inside".

She added that the store is now set to have shutters installed to help protect it in the future. The door has now been fixed and the shop is back open again. 

She added: "It's going to be a large cost. It's not sustainable for us to keep fixing the door and it smashed again".

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said the force is carrying out enquiries into the burglary.

They said: "We received a call around 9:45am yesterday morning (27 November) with a report of burglary at a business premises on Worcester Street in Kidderminster.

"Enquiries are now on going".