Allison Horn opened Coffee @ The Bothy in John Street in March for takeout only, and this week was finally able to welcome sit-in custom for the first time after restrictions were eased. But on the morning of Friday, May 21, she received a phone call from a staff member who was opening the shop to say that the coffee shop had been broken into overnight. Thieves smashed a window to get into the premises and stole a mobile phone and the drawer of the till. The businesswoman said: “We don’t keep money in the premises overnight and we leave the drawer open to show that, so they didn’t get any money. The phone, which we use to take orders, is locked so they won’t be able to use that either. So it’s the window which is the main issue for us.” After losing her job in airport parking due to the pandemic, Allison pursued her dream of opening her own coffee shop and she say it’s an extra blow to be broken into at a time when the hospitality industry is just getting back on its feet. "I thought they were kidding when I got the phone call to say we’d been broken into,” she said. “We’ve put so much hard work into this so it’s really disappointing for something like this to happen. There’s a lot of CCTV around here, so I’m hoping someone might have seen something.” Last month, the Echo reported on new deli The Fat Unicorn in Mackie’s Corner being broken into, with thieves making away with alcohol. A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “This morning (Friday) we received a report of a burglary at a coffee shop on John Street, Sunderland, overnight. “It was reported that offenders had forced entry into the premises and made off with the till. An investigation has been launched into the incident. “Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101 quoting log 129 210521.” Support your Echo and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on SAFC and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.