Heartbreak as thieves steal thousands of pounds of children's designer clothes

Janis Hobbs had been dreaming of opening Designer Minor Kidz for years, after running a shop of the same name in Jamestown, America, with her sister in the 80s.

And in October, the 53-year-old, who also works as an accountant, finally succeeded in getting the store up and running, only for heartless crooks to destroy most of her hard work in one fell swoop.

The store, at Garden Village, Bridgnorth Road, Shipley, was targeted at night time on December 20, while the family celebrated her daughter Amy's 23rd birthday.

The front windows were smashed and after gaining access, the thieves took all the boys designer clothing and some of the girls.

Devastated Janis, who stays in Norton, Stourbridge, lost Clive on a family trip to DisneyWorld Orlando when they went together for daughter Amy's eighth birthday.

She said: "I try not to ever let Christmas be sad, but this has really hit me. For it to happen on my daughter's birthday as well.

"I think we were targeted.

"I've been working as an accountant, I worked for three different places.

"But I thought, now I'm in my 50s, I'm going to follow my dream.

"So I sold my house in Edgbaston in Birmingham and moved to Upton-on-Severn, with the intention of moving down to Falmouth to start it up.

"But a friend of my partner said there was a shop available at Garden Village so I went for a look, not expecting much.

"I fell in love with it, and within five weeks I was moved and the shop was open.

"It was my partner Martin that discovered it. At the moment I still work as an accountant to keep ticking over so I do a couple of days at the shop, Martin does and couple and Amy does a couple of days as well

"He couldn't believe it. All of the boys stuff was gone, there was designer boys clothes and other tops with Star Wars and Frozen on - all gone.

"They took cords and jeans, they made sure they got all the most expensive stuff.

"About 70 per cent of the stock was taken.

"I rang the insurance company but because we didn't have an alarm, it wasn't covered.

"And because it's Christmas, it's been slow to get things done like getting the window fixed."

She has now got a Mother Blaster security alarm installed, the loudest on the market.

Janis added: "It's made me think about just giving up to be honest, it has really knocked me for six.

"But I've had so much support on the Facebook page, no-one can believe it.

"We'd had a good opening few weeks which makes it all the more horrible.

"I wanted the shop to look magical, and I think it does.

"The children seem to really like it.

"We've had quite a lot of poorly children come in, and it just makes you realise, there is always someone worse off than you.

"I was planning on making my own dresses as well."

The shop has missed out on crucial Christmas trade due to not having enough stock, and Janis has a message to the thieves.

She said: "They are scum, I'm more upset because it's for children.

"We get quite a lot of poorly children coming in and they really enjoy it. They have had to miss out."