'My nerves are shattered' (From Gazette & Herald)

'My nerves are shattered'

AN antiques dealer who has been burgled eight times said she felt sick when she was targeted once again at her Malton shop.

Gwynneth Warren has been running Magpie Antiques at 11 to 13 The Shambles for 18 years.

Since her husband died a year-and-a-half ago, she has also taken over The Shambles Bookshop opposite, which he owned, and is running both businesses single-handedly.

She was shocked last week to find thieves had broken the lock of the main door to the shop and grabbed more than £4,000 worth of jewellery and other antiques.

"It makes you feel physically sick," she said. "I don't know how much, if any, of the money I'll get back and it is a lot to me."

It is the eighth time she has been targeted at the shop. "They would smash the front window and grab jewellery from a display," said Gwynneth, who lives in Burythorpe. "So I had iron mesh put over all the windows, but they came back and sawed through it."

Metal bars were then placed under the mesh, and until last week thieves have been deterred. "We're toughening up the door now, but if they really want to get in, they do it," said Gwynneth.

"It's awful because these are Grade II-listed buildings and it's like being in a cage."

The break-in almost made her feel like selling the business.

"I work 24-hours-a-day to keep going and this just makes you feel like giving up," she said. "But I've been collecting since I was five, I've always bought and sold, this is my life."

Gwynneth had a shop in Wales before coming to Malton, where she also experienced thefts.

"You feel such fear weeks afterwards," she added. "It makes your nerves jangle, my nerves are shattered. Each morning I get here and it's all alright, I'm relieved, and it shouldn't be like that."

PC Ian Fraser, of Malton Police, said: "Offenders approached the shop in the early hours of Wednesday, February 15, forced entry and stole £4,173 worth of jewellery and other items. Some were worth between £200 and £300 but most were between £20 and £40 in value."

He asked for anyone who saw anything or has any information about this crime to contact Malton Police on 0845 6060247.

:: What has been stolen?

Gold bracelets.

Gold chains.

Rings.

Victorian jewellery.

Gold bar brooches.

Silver bar brooches.

Cameo brooches.

One Swiss gold wrist watch.

Italian Micro-Mosaic jewellery.

Whitby jet brooches.

Victorian Scottish Agate.

Updated: 15:41 Wednesday, February 22, 2006