BUSINESSES in Melksham have again been targeted by criminals, with four incidents over the weekend, including one that has left a restaurant facing a £3,000 repair bill.

Three firms in Bank Street and another in Bath Road were targeted by burglars overnight on Saturday (February 25). Worst hit was Casa Restaurant in Bank Street. The raiders broke in and made off with the till drawer.

Restaurant owner Ilir Bakiji, 31, from Bristol, said: “It was devastating to come in the next day to see what had happened.

“It’s the kind of thing you read about but never think will happen to you.

“They took the float, which contained around £200, but they also damaged the till system which could cost around £3,000 to repair and probably won’t be covered by insurance.

“We managed to open as normal at midday on Saturday without our guests knowing, but it took a lot of hard work.

“A lot of businesses in Melksham have been targeted like this lately. It’s definitely a concern.”

Just a few metres down the road, Hatto’s Barbers was also targeted, in what police believe is a series of linked incidents. The attacks come just two weeks after the Dorothy House and Wiltshire Mind charity shops were broken into. Cash was stolen from both.

Adam Carter, a barber at Hatto’s, said: “You don’t expect it to happen really. We share the back of the business with two others, we didn’t get broken into but one of the others did. I think it’s people just chancing it.”

Nina Hillman, the owner of Libra Hair Studio in Bank Street, was relieved to discover that nothing had been taken from her business, even though the back door had been damaged.

Ms Hillman said: “It's just a massive inconvenience. I think the burglars tried to have a go here because of Tops in the High Street being ram raided. They probably assumed we sold the top end hair straighteners and thought they would chance it. We don’t and there isn’t anything of that value here to steal. It just seems like they're have-a-go burglars.

“The back of our business is in view of Sainsburys car park so there is CCTV which is currently being looked at.”

The Kebab and Pizza House also suffered minor damage, with what is believed to be a crowbar.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: “If anyone witnessed anything suspicious in the Bank Street area on Saturday night then they are asked to call the police on 101 or alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”