A FLORIST has begged people to tell police if they are offered valuable candles which were stolen from her shop.

Claire Edwards,41, says she feels like giving up after a man smashed his way through the back door of her shop ‘Emma's Ivy’ in Snakes Lane East, Woodford Green, stealing £2,000 worth of ‘Yankee Candles’.

The shop is Woodford’s only licensed stockist of the popular scented candles which sell for £20 each, and Mrs Edwards says she is unlikely to be able to replace them in time to meet Christmas demand.

The break-in is the third the shop has suffered in the last two years, with thieves targeting the sought after candles on each occasion.

Mrs Edwards said: “The first time it happened they got in through the front door and stole £1,500 worth of candles.

“They got in again a few months after that, but didn’t get anything.

“We spent a fortune on securing the front of the shop, now they have come in through the back and the insurers say they can’t cover it.

“I just feel like giving up. We are working ourselves silly to keep the business going and something like this is a massive set back.

“I just hope if anyone reads this and is offered the candles that they sympathise with us and let police know.”

A neighbour reported the latest break-in after seeing a man carrying a box out of the alleyway at the rear of the florist at around 8.15pm on October 14.

When she confronted him, the man said he was taking away rubbish from outside the shop and walked off down Snakes Lane East and into Prospect Place.

Shop manager Lisa Sweetman, 21, said: “We think that someone might be coming in to check when we get deliveries because they always seem to know when the candles come in.

“It’s going to be really tough for the business because I don’t know that Claire can get the new stock in time to meet the autumn and Christmas demand.

“It would be good if someone could install CCTV along here, it’s strange that such a busy road doesn’t have any. It might help catch this person and it would make everyone feel a lot safer.”

Ilford CID are appealing for anyone with information to contact the burglary squad on 0208 345 2680 or Crimestoppers anonymously on  0800 555111.

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