THE owner of a family-run café in the heart of Witney says it was "gut-wrenching" to be targeted by thieves after working so hard to make the small business a success.

Andrew Brewer, manager of Church Green Kitchen in Market Square, came to work on the morning of Saturday, September 17, to find his cafe had been broken into and burgled.

The crime occurred on the same day raiders broke into Bakers Butchers, also in Market Square. Police, who believe the two burglaries are linked, have arrested a 39-year-old man from Swindon.

Mr Brewer arrived at work at 7am to find the windows of the café had been forced open with a crowbar. Once inside, he discovered thieves had entered the building, broken into the till and stolen more than £1,000 in cash and two iPads which were used as part of the till system.

He said: “It's a bit upsetting, especially when you come in and you’re looking forward to a busy weekend.

“It was just surreal when it first happened. I look back and think ‘why would anybody break into a local café in the heart of Witney?’

“I don’t trust as many people anymore and that’s not a good thing. We've always locked the doors but we never expected to be broken into.”

The café has now implemented a number of procedural changes. CCTV has been installed on the property and no money or valuables are left inside overnight.

Mr Brewer said that the incident was particularly disappointing in light of the recent success of the café, which he bought two years ago with his father, Arnold Brewer, and his dad’s friend, Steven Cowen.

He said: “It’s a family run business and we work incredibly hard and support the community here in Witney.

“We’ve had a really good summer and thought everything had been going really well. Then something like this happens and it knocks you back down to earth. It’s gut-wrenching.”

Two men captured on CCTV were sought by police following the burglary at Church Green Kitchen, which is believed to have occurred between 1am and 5am.

The burglary at Bakers Butchers occurred at around the same time and is being linked by police. Offenders broke into the back door of the butcher’s shop and, once inside, stole £1,300 and caused more than £1,000 worth of damage.

Police said on Monday they had arrested a 39-year-old man from Swindon, who has been released on bail until October 17. Investigations are still ongoing.