A FAMILY business in Winklebury was broken into, with hundreds of pounds in cash reportedly taken and a staff member threatened with a hammer.

A staff member at John Burton’s Foodmarket, on Winklebury Centre, Basingstoke, entered the shop at around 04:50am on Wednesday and was “stunned” by what he saw.

A man was attempting to leave the building through the window. He was holding a hammer, and verbally threatened the staff member, who ran out the back door and called the police from outside the old Three Barells pub.

Owner John Burton said: “He was a bit stunned because he saw them trying to climb out the window. He panicked a bit, ran out the back and called the police. He could not confront them because one of the guys had a hammer in his hand and he was threatening him, so he didn’t take any chances.”

Mr Burton said that the intruder took “a couple of computers” and between four and five hundred pounds in loose cash from the till, but that they had only entered the office and not the shop itself.

The staff member was not sure how many perpetrators there were, but believes there was more than one person involved.

“There must have been two or three of them, as people told me they saw them hanging around outside the shop from about 2am,” said Mr Burton.

“One of the neighbours got it on camera, and one of the people who broke in left their phone behind on the desk. Some one must have texted him that someone was coming.”

The phone and video evidence has been handed over to the police, and Mr Burton hopes the culprits are found quickly.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: “We are investigating a report of a burglary at John Burton's Food Market, which occurred around 4.45am on Wednesday 16 September.

“It has been reported that money was taken from the premises. Enquiries are ongoing, anyone with information should call 101, quoting the reference 44200358319.”

It comes just two years after the Foodmarket was targeted by 25 year-old Aiden Baverstock, who was sentenced to six months in jail, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation days and 60 hours of unpaid work in September 2018, after he entered the store and took out a knife, corralling staff and shoppers behind a till.

“They get caught, and they get a slap on the wrist and told not to do it again, and it really frustrates you,” said Mr Burton.

“It is telling people they can do whatever, it is ok.

“No one was hurt at least, so I am happy about that.”

Speaking of the inconvenience caused, Mr Burton said the loss of computers will cause administration difficulties, and there were some delays yesterday morning as the police could not allow them into the office to process order tickets.

However, the business’s Facebook post received an outpour of support and concern.

“I am popular in Winklebury. Everyone knows me and we try to look after each other,” said Mr Burton.

“I will be getting extra alarms and everything now. It is going to cost me a few pounds, but it’s worth it.”