AN ANDOVER man has said he has been affected 'mentally and emotionally' after his small business was broken into.

Vapour Vibes vape shop, in Station Approach, suffered a break-in on Saturday, July 27. 

A man entered the store by smashing a small toilet window in the early hours of the morning, stealing the cash register before taking off on a bicycle.

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The damage inside the vape shopThe damage inside the vape shop (Image: Kemar Myers)

Shop owner Kemar Myers said: "I closed as normal. I woke up in the morning checking my cameras, as I do, and I realised that the toilet door was open.

"I thought maybe someone else had a key to the shop, used the toilet and left. The cash register was missing, and that's when I realised we had actually been robbed."

Kemar explained that although 'not a lot of money was stolen', the impact was 'bad'. He likened the break-in to someone entering your home, saying: "When someone enters your space, it ruins it for you.

"That was kind of the feeling, and I am surprised that I feel that way. It has affected me mentally and emotionally more than financially."

The father-of-one said that since the break-in he checks the doors and windows in his shop are locked 'at least three times' before leaving, describing an occasion when he drove away, but then came back to the shop to check the doors had been closed.

"This has affected me a lot worse than I thought it had," he added.

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The 37-year-old opened the vape shop nine months ago. The Bulford resident said he chose the location as his close friend,  Jaipaul Powell, owns Caribbean takeaway Jiggaz, next to the unit.

Kemar joined the army in Jamaica with Jaipaul and made the decision to open the store as he has 'always been interested in opening a shop'.

"We are trying our best to move past it. This is a small business that is employing people, and you have robbed it," he continued.

"We started from nothing and it hurts."

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: "We received report of a burglary at Unit 1, Station Approach in Andover, at around 4am on July 27.

"Entry was forced to the store and a cash register was stolen.

"Officers attended the scene with Crime Scene Investigators. This investigation has been filed pending further information to identify the suspect.

"If anyone has any information they can call 101 with reference 44240319287."