THE owner of a popular Bournemouth café says she won’t let burglars drive her away after her business was targeted for the second time in less than a year.

Cherries Café in Curzon Road was broken into on Thursday, November 15, at 9.05pm. A police officer attended and, assisted by a member of the public, located two men in Kings Park. A till and amount of cash were recovered from the scene.

Mandy Norris said around £30 was stolen in loose change but the damage caused will cost around £1,000 to repair.

She said: “For such a minimal amount of money, it causes so much destruction. I’m just saddened by it all. It’s twice in 11 months that they’ve targeted my property. They’re not going to drive me out. The business has been in the family for 10 years and I’m not going to let them beat me.”

Mandy said she was heartened by how much the community came together to offer to help following the break-in.

She said: “People really feel like it’s their café. That’s what’s made me even more determined to dig my heels in.

“On match days it’s lovely, we get people who come from all over the country. People from London, people form Weymouth. It’s almost like they have their rituals and they have to eat the same food for good luck. We have people quieting outside the door,” she added.

The café will undergo a refurbishment in the New Year and expand its seating area to accommodate more diners on match days.

A sandwich bar will also be installed, and Mandy said she plans to introduce a cooking club to teach young families how to create economical meals.

She said: “We also have a lot of Care in the Community people who come here for their meals or take them home with them. That’s why we can’t let this place go. We do a lot more in the community than people realise.”

A 19-year-old man who was arrested has been released under investigation. Dorset Police say their enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information about the break-in should contact Dorset Police quoting occurrence number 55180184914.