A resident of Oxfordshire has started a campaign to raise funds to install metal shutters for Spar Minster Lovell store the front doors of which were completely devastated during a ram raid recently.
Calling the shop as "cornerstone" of her community in Oxfordshire, resident Karen Turner-Dutton is calling on people to offer donation to restore Spar Minster Lovell, owned and run by the family of retailer Ian Lewis, after its front was damaged badly during the shocking ram-raid.
"This store isn’t just a business; it’s the heart of Minster Lovell, a place that connects and sustains our village. We can’t afford to lose it," Karen states on the fund appeal's Go Fund Me page.
"Every donation, big or small, will help secure the shop and bring peace of mind to Lyn and Dave. Let’s come together to protect this vital part of our community and show the Lewis family how much they mean to us."
The funds are being raised for metal shutters to prevent future break-ins, a Smoke Cloak system to deter and neutralize intruders and for an upgraded alarms for faster response times and better protection.
During early hours of Dec 27, five individuals smashed through the front doors of Spar Minster Lovell near Witney in Oxfordshire and used a vehicle to pull an ATM machine through the premises, causing extensive damage to the shop’s infrastructure and stock.
They made off with the cash machine, which had about £2,500 inside. Around £1,000 in stock was lost; the fridges were also damaged due to the impact.
Lewis told Asian Trader at the time, "The cash machine was at the back of the store. It was pulled and dragged right through the chiller and ambient area, causing extensive damage to the store, chiller doors and, stock.
“The automatic doors of the store were replaced recently on Dec 17, after the last break in that happened in September. We haven't even paid that bill fully and the doors are now completely damaged. This is over and above all the damage that the store sustained.
"Since the machine was at the back, almost the whole store has been shattered since it was pulled and dragged through, breaking everything that came on the way."
The ram-raid incident came as a shock to the community as well. Many locals and regular shoppers reportedly helped Lewis and his family to clear the shop floor which was filled with broken glasses and spilled stock.
As the shop reopened, they had to board up the doors which makes it look like it is closed. This has meant passing trade has significantly decreased, leaving Lewis about £30,000 down.
Still disturbed by the incident, Lewis thanked Karen for launching the fund-raising campaign.
"Your kindness and effort mean the world to us, and we’re incredibly grateful to have such supportive members in our community.
Every bit of support makes a difference, and together, we can ensure the store remains a safe and welcoming place for everyone," Lewis wrote on social media.
He also thanked AF Blakemore & Son Ltd for their "ongoing support during this tricky period".
Lewis wrote, "The banners and posters they designed and printed in record time will hopefully help make customers aware that we are open."
The recent ram-raid has been devastating for Lewis' family, particularly his elderly parents who were sleeping upstairs during both incidents.
The business has been in Lewis’s family for generations, set up by his grandmother in 1937.
The store was targeted for the second time in three months. Earlier in September 2024, a group of four masked men were caught on store's camera trying to break in the store before they cut the CCTV connection.
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