THIEVES who broke into a Malvern opticians rolled a heavy safe down a flight of stairs and made off with more than 500 spectacle frames.

The break-in happened at Waller and Waller, Edith Walk, between 5pm last Friday and 8am the following day.

Deborah Croxford, who took over the business with her husband Andrew in July, said the raid was a blow, but they were soldiering on. She said: “More than 500 frames were taken. Some of them were £20 frames, but some are worth a good deal more than that. They also stole a laptop, some cash and a Vax carpet cleaner.

“I’ve been working in the opticians business for 20 years and I’ve never heard of a break-in like this. You have people shoplifting a few frames, but nothing like this.

“They moved a huge safe that was installed years ago and rolled it down the stairs. It weighs two tons and it did a lot of damage to the stairs, the walls and the floors. They didn’t manage to get it open, and it was empty anyway.

They must have made a lot of noise, so I hope someone heard something.”

She said the exact cost to the business was not yet known.

“People have been very good to us since it happened,” she said. “Professional colleagues and frame suppliers have gone out of their way to help, and we’re really grateful.”

The thieves forced their way in through a rear fire door which leads to the shop floor. Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 0190S 031112.