Shop owner has to absorb costs of vandalism

Charlie Demetriou, the owner of Zero Store in Warwickshire, reported feeling compelled to post a heartfelt message on social media following an incident of vandalism at her shop. On 9 November, one of the stores windows was broken.

Demetriou explained, "There was some anger, of course, but also disappointment. As a small business, we often have to absorb these unexpected costs."

Warwickshire Police stated that investigations were conducted, including reviewing CCTV footage, but the individual responsible could not be identified.

The day after the incident at the Russell Street location in Leamington Spa, Demetriou posted online to highlight the challenges small business owners face to maintain their operations. She told the BBC:

"I handle all the bookkeeping, respond to emails, manage the website, process online orders, oversee staff across two shops, and take care of social media. Its a very long list. When something like this happens, it adds stress that is unavoidable and can feel really discouraging."

Despite the damage, the shop was able to reopen the next day. The CCTV footage revealed two men engaged in a fight outside the store, each headbutting the window in turn, resulting in it shattering, according to Demetriou. She noted that the laminated glass allowed the store to continue trading without interruption.

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Author: Sophia Brooks