A HEARTBROKEN business owner in Fordingbridge has slated the yobs who broke into her shop and cleared out her stock just weeks after she opened.

Lisa Croker, 25, officially opened computer game shop Station, situated in Salisbury Street, in November.

The shop rents computer games but also had a games room for young people to compete against each other in monthly tournaments with the chance of winning a cash prize.

However this idea has now been scrapped after burglars, thought to be teenagers, broke in sometime on December 11 or 12 and stole more than £4,000 of stock, including the shop’s television and Wii games console.

“I am gutted,” said Mrs Croker, who is originally from Salisbury.

“I opened the shop for the kids around Fordingbridge to give them something to do and somewhere to go so they weren’t hanging around on the streets.

“For someone to come along and take it all away is just absolutely heartbreaking.

Mrs Croker, who was able to open the shop with the help of funding given by the Prince’s Trust, is now hoping to recoup the money through her insurance company.

She has also upped security at the shop by installing cameras and alarms to prevent anything similar happening in the future and is being vigilant about who comes in.

“It has taught me a lesson but I am carrying on as normal with computer game rental,” she said. “I almost feel sorry for them because it is just a pathetic life to live doing this and they don’t understand what they do to people.”

The police are investigating the incident and are following up a number of lines of inquiry. Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Dave Humphry from Hampshire Police on 0845 045 4545.