Shop owner 'devastated' after thieves ransack business and steal thousands worth of stock

The owner of a vape shop in Cardiff has been left "devastated" after his shop was broken into and had thousands worth of stock stolen. Queen Street Vapes in the Capitol Shopping Centre was targeted overnight at around 2.30am.

CCTV footage from the scene appears to show two individuals dressed in black kicking and trying to enter the shop via the front door before smashing the glass of the window and going inside. It later shows the pair behind the shop counter, with one repeatedly shouting "open the bag, open the bag" and putting products from behind the till into bags before leaving via the broken window around one minute later.

Geraint Randall, who owns Queen Street Vapes, called the incident, which happened on Friday, April 19, "devastating" as a large amount of stock had been taken as well as thousands of pounds worth of damage caused to the premises. “It was about 2am and I had a phone call from the police saying a member of the public had notified them there had been a break in," he explained. For the latest Cardiff news, sign up to our newsletter here

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"Me and my partner headed off from Rogerstone and we arrived, the officer took some details and we provided the footage. He told us a few shops on that street had been broken into. When I arrived I saw the small shattered door glass. We arrived through the Capitol shopping centre and we walked through and it is just so devastating."

Mr Randall, 33, said that while it initially appeared that not much had been taken, after counting their losses it amounted to around £4,000 retail value worth of stock. He estimated that more than £1,000 in damage was also caused to the shop window on the side of the shop facing onto Queen Street.

He added that it was the second time the shop had been the victim of a break-in since it opened in February. “When you take the window replacements and being a new business, it is a big setback for 30 seconds’ worth of damage. It will set us back a few weeks by the time everything is paid for and covered.

“It was replacement stock that we had ordered on the Monday and was waiting to be used. Judging by the footage they didn’t go for anything that was opened - they must have scoped out the shop because it looks like they knew exactly where the cameras were, as they didn’t look at them, and it was such precision the way they’d done it.

“The glass was smashed and the door has to be replaced as they tried to kick it it. It’s also [difficult] trying to get a hold of the right people to get it done quickly. It’s trickier as after 10am no vehicles are allowed on that street, so for that work and deliveries you’re talking about permits and all that." Support award-winning journalism with WalesOnline’s Premium app on Apple or Android

He added that he and his partner stayed for the rest of the night in the shop and didn't return home until the following morning. “It was a long night. We got in about half 11/12pm. I don’t think people realise the consequences 30 seconds worth of action has on people’s lives. We were sat inside the shop from 2am all night to make sure nobody else came in.

“At the moment, I have a contact who can replace the glass so I can re-open the store. If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t be able to open for at least a few days. We opened up in February and it’s the second time we have been broken into. It is a major setback. It’s been a long day and will have its effects for longer. From a small business perspective we try and help our customers always and have the right stock in, and losing that affects us because our customers expect us to have certain stock in store.

“I don’t think there is anything worse than disappointing a customer, no matter if you’re a small business or a large corporation."

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In September, 2022, WalesOnline wrote of the issues facing Queen Street - once Cardiff's primary shopping area - including businesses reporting issues with anti-social behaviour and a large number of vacant units. Mr Randall said he hadn't personally experienced issues during the day but that things became more problematic in the evenings.

“During the day, there doesn’t seem to be any issues at all. City wardens do their job really well, they pop by and you’re never short of seeing them. About half 4/5pm you see a big drop-off and it seems to become a different area - a lot of youths hanging around, anti-social behaviour, and it only gets worse as the night goes on.

“That end of town is a lot rougher than I think people know it is. Don’t get me wrong, some people there are phenomenal but it has become quite a concern. I think that part of Cardiff has been a bit forgotten.”

A South Wales Police spokesperson said: "Officers attended Queen Street, Cardiff, at approximately 2.30am on Friday, April 19, in response to a report of a burglary at a vape shop. Two male suspects dressed all in black and wearing balaclavas had smashed the front window to gain access. The owner estimates £4k to £5k worth of vapes were stolen.

"Being a victim of burglary, whether it’s your home, your business, or where you work is a traumatic experience and we are working to investigate this burglary. Anyone who witnessed the burglary or has any information, is asked to contact South Wales Police quoting reference 2400125702, via live chat, emailing wp101@south-wales.police.uk or by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 in an emergency."