Southampton Restaurant Padharo Burgled Amid Police Response Delay

London, Aug 8 (PTI) - The proprietor of Padharo, a well-loved vegetarian restaurant in Southampton, recounts the distressing experience of having to pursue the trail left by burglars who made off with valuable alcohol and cash. This occurred as local law enforcement failed to respond to an emergency call.

Ankit Vaghela, gearing up for Padharo's fourth anniversary on England's south coast, expressed his disillusionment when instructed to email CCTV footage of the intruders, who broke into the vacant restaurant late at night. Despite the disappointment, Vaghela took it upon himself to scrutinize the footage, leading him to the discovery of his damaged cash register, emptied of cash, and shattered liquor bottles.

"It was very heartbreaking to be told that officers will be able to review the damage in three to five working days and that no forensics was available at the time," said Vaghela. The restaurant faced considerable challenges due to the break-in, having to clean up extensive glass damage and operate without a functional cash register. However, Vaghela remains committed to maintaining the high level of service for which they are known.

Originally from Gujarat, Vaghela reflected on a similar incident the previous year where a burglar entered through a different point but fled with only injuries sustained during the break-in. "It is extremely worrying and a safety concern as other businesses in the city centre have been similarly targeted. But we have to trust the process and hope for justice," he noted.

This recent break-in transpired just days after Padharo hosted the Indian women’s cricket team, including captain Harmanpreet Singh, for an ODI match against England. The local community has since shown substantial support for the restaurant, responding to a social media post that warned area businesses.

"Please be extra vigilant. We would hate for anyone else to go through this. But we are determined. We’ve spent the time cleaning up the mess, and we are back open. We refuse to let this define us. Now, more than ever, we're relying on our wonderful community," the appeal reads.

Hampshire Police is actively investigating the incident dated July 31. The force acknowledges the significant effect of burglaries on businesses, emphasizing their commitment to addressing such incidents. They explained, "Every deployment decision is based on informed risk assessments to make sure the most serious cases are prioritised, and officers are on scene where there is an immediate threat to life or a crime in action." They further clarified that the initial information indicated no immediate presence of offenders at the scene, allowing the investigation to proceed without an on-the-spot response. The police are now pursuing various lines of inquiry, assisted by CCTV, and maintaining contact with Vaghela to update him on the investigation. An appeal to the public has also been issued for any additional information.