THIS is the chilling moment multiple yobs stole £20,000 worth of Jellycat soft toys in a bizarre night-time raid.
The Gorge Bear Company in Cheddar, Somerset, was brutally ram-raided by at least two thieves at around 4.40am on Sunday who took countless numbers of the beloved plushies.
SWNSThis is the moment a yob grabbed countless Jellycat soft toys in a horrific night-time ram-raid of a store[/caption]
SWNSThe thieves broke into the independent shop in Cheddar, Somerset, at around 4.40am on Sunday[/caption]
AFPIt comes amid fears of organised shoplifters targeting the beloved kids’ toys[/caption]
Shocking CCTV footage showed one of the yobs, donned with a mask, swiping the shelves and grabbing many soft toys at once, shoving them into what appears to be a large bag.
After the shameless thief packs them in compactly, they turn back to the shelf to grab more of the kids’ toys.
At one point they grab what could be at least a dozen plushies at once before throwing them off the shelf into their sack.
This comes amid fears that organised groups of shoplifters are targeting Jellycat soft toys in order to resell them online for as much as £2,400.
Avon and Somerset Police has launched an investigation into the raid but told The Sun no arrests had yet been made.
CCTV footage also captured a man and woman looking into the windows of the store around 20 minutes before the shocking ram-raid.
A car was then used to gain entry into the shop and officers are currently trying to locate the silver Renault Twingo involved.
The shop’s company secretary, Paul Pimlott, told the BBC the group rammed into the shop eight times using a wooden post as a “battering ram” in order to gain access.
The Gorge Bear Company has now also made an appeal for people to look out for any of the items which could be sold on at car boot sales, on Vinted, or on eBay.
Paul said: “Seeing it, there’s an element of shock of why would people do that?
“There’s a lot of emotional outpouring because people think it’s only a bear, but there’s a story behind every bear.”
The shop had been closed since the “large quantity” of both Jellycats and Charlie Bears were stolen but it is expected to reopen on Thursday.
It comes amid fears there is a crime surge fuelled by organised shoplifting gangs, influenced by the immense popularity of Jellycat toys.
Devoted collectors have seen themselves parting with large volumes of cash in order to gain the rarest plushies from the British brand.
Some of the most desired versions include limited edition versions as well as older or “retired” designs of which there only may be a few left.
Cravings for these priceless toys have seen some sell for as much as £2,400 on eBay, with countless others selling for hundreds of pounds.
SWNSThe yob leaving the store in Cheddar with the toys in hand[/caption]
TikTok/lizzyhenstockxJellycat toys have become incredibly popular in recent years[/caption]
GettyThe British brand was founded in London in 1999[/caption]
Typically, most of the toys retail new, in store, for between just £12 and £60.
Many stores across the country have now brought in additional CCTV and other safety measures in order to discourage theft.
Some have even introduced security tags and facial recognition software to identify possible shoplifters.
Scotsdales garden centre in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire, said it saw a rise in thefts in the run-up to Christmas of the beloved toys.
Store manager Caroline Owen told The Guardian around 60 of the plushies had been stolen over the festive period.
She added that a number of her colleagues had witnessed shoplifters hunting down the valuable teddies.
JELLYCAT COLLECTOR MAKES THOUSANDS SELLING ONLINE
Last month, one Jellycat collector revealed she had made more than £2,000 selling the popular plushies online.
Romilly Mason, 21, started collecting Jellycats in 2004, when her aunt Boo, 56, gave her a bunny Jellycat for her first birthday.
Over the years, Romilly has collected 120 Jellycats, 80 of which are bunnies, spending just under £1,000.
Her collection includes bunnies, lions, spiders, and even moths – her favourite is Honey, the Bunny.
Now she has decided to sell her Jellycats to put money towards a house deposit in London.
So far she has made £2,000 and is still selling plushies on her eBay for as much as £720.
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