Arrest after jewellery store break-in, Lyme Regis

Jewellery by Lucy Campbell, at The Town Mill, Lyme Regis, was broken into at around 1.40am on Tuesday, September 13 with a thief reportedly stealing almost the entire stock.

A 59-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Lucy said it was as though the "heart and soul" had been "ripped out" of her business.

She said: “We’re talking tens of thousands of pounds - at least £40,000 but it could be much more.

"Police were in the shop (yesterday) gathering evidence and it’s like 98% of the jewellery has been taken - it’s really serious because obviously I make everything by hand so the time it takes to make them is enormous, as well.

“Every piece is hand-made, it’s all unique, which in some ways is a good thing because it makes it distinctive if people are trying to sell it on but I can’t just ring up a supplier and get more stock.

Lucy Campbell (Image: Lucy Campbell)

Examples of the 'distinctive' jewellery  Pictures: Lucy Campbell

Lucy, who started the business in 2008, estimated the stock lost would take her 'well over a year' to create and said the theft came at the worst possible time - with Christmas markets typically a hot period for her business.

She said: “It quite literally is starting to scratch. I’ve built this business for 14 years and I’m currently in a situation where I have neither the jewellery or the money so it’s almost like we’re back at the very beginning when I first started the business.

“The Christmas markets tend to be a really busy period for us and they tend to be a big deal for a business if you get in - because you can’t just pay your money and book a spot; you have to go through a whole process just to get that spot.

“This is the time of year where I’d be hands-on making stock and focussing towards the Christmas period because that, at the markets, is where we bring in the income to see us through January, February, March - the more production-focussed months.”

Upon learning of the break-in, Lucy said she 'just burst into tears' and urged anyone who might have spotted anything suspicious to report it to the police.

She said: "I feel completely violated. It’s my livelihood and it’s really difficult to get your head around because it’s not just bits that can be replaced: that is my heart and soul, months if not years of work, that someone has just ripped away in the space of an hour.”

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "Following enquiries, a 59-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary.

"He has been released on police bail while the investigation continues."