Family Firm Bounce Back After Burglars Cause Damage Worth Thousands

A local company which specialises in supplying hoses and fittings is reassuring customers that it’s ‘business as usual’ following a recent burglary.

Cotswold Hose & Fittings, on Love Lane Industrial Estate, Cirencester, was targeted by thieves overnight earlier this month. The thieves sold stock and caused damage worth thousands of pounds. 

The company was set up by Deborah’s step-father and mother in 2002 and has supplied customers across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and the UK ever since. Deborah and her husband Jan have been running it since her step-father passed away in 2012. It remains a family business managed by the husband and wife team.

The firm supplies niche products to local and national businesses in the farming, construction and machinery hire sectors and is a member of the British Fluid Power Association.

Managing director Deborah Smidt, said: “One of my colleagues was here at about 9.30pm and then the next one arrived at midday on the Sunday, so it happened between those times. 

“The criminals smashed their way in using a crowbar to break through a metal door. We counted 12 crowbar marks on this big metal door, it was all bent out of shape. They stole laptops, compressors, pumps, stuff we had in the warehouse – they even stole cold drinks out of the fridge. The stock and assets come to about £20,000.”

Deborah said the police responded quickly and sent forensics teams out the same day to check over the premises. So far, no arrests have been made. On advice, the team have installed a new, state-of-the-art security system.

Deborah said: “We want to reassure customers we’re still open for business and operating normally. Since the burglary, we’ve replenished stock and installed new alarms and CCTV and fixed the damage these thieves caused.”

Police are still investigating the burglary, which they believe may be linked to a second, similar incident at another company in the area. Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.