Thieves ransack wedding boutique

Reporter: Iram Ramzan
Date published: 11 December 2014


A WOMAN has been left devastated after her new boutique was burgled — only a week before it was due to open.

Jacqui Dijon set up the Bespoke Wedding Boutique in Oldham Road in Failsworth, which she was hoping to officially open tomorrow.

However, thieves broke into her shop last week some time between Wednesday night and Thursday morning by forcing open the gate and the front door, taking everything, from weddings gowns, bridesmaid dresses, tiaras and shoes.

They even took the toilet rolls, tea, coffee and sugar.

Jacqui estimates they’ve taken between £15-20,000 worth of goods.

She said: “They’ve just wiped us out totally. The place was totally ransacked. They’ve left nothing. I’ve had to start all over again.”

Jacqui is contacting suppliers for goods she can display in her shop but at the moment she is having to make do with a few dresses that were in her home.

The store will not now open until next February.

“It has been my year of hell,” she went on. “I got burgled at home, my boyfriend ended up in hospital this year and my dad has a brain injury. We’ve had it all this year.

“To come in and see this devastation was the icing on the cake of a really bad year.

“When I was doing the inventory, I just lay on the floor and cried, and I’m a strong person. It was just the end of the road.”

Jacqui worked as an engineer for Rolls Royce until she was made redundant a few years ago.

Since then she has kept busy by looking after her son and doing stand-up comedy and singing for charity.

She decided to go in to the wedding industry as she has always been a “girly-girl” who loves big dresses and enjoys sewing.

Luckily, Jacqui, from Moston has the support of all her friends and family members, who are with her all the time.

She said: “I’ve got some amazing friends, an amazing family. They’ve really rallied round. The help has been fabulous.

“We’re not going to give up, I’ll continue doing the refurbishment for the shop.

“If we give up, the thieves won. I can’t be defeated.”

Police confirmed that the burglary took place some time between last Wednesday from 5pm and 10am on Thursday.

So far no one has been arrested. Anyone with information should call the non-emergency police number 101 or crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.