A family have been left devastated after their pub was ransacked in the middle of the night while they were sleeping.
The Horse and Groom pub, in Southend Road, Rochford, was broken into in the early hours of Monday morning by thieves while the owners and their two children were asleep in their home upstairs.
Jill Hood, mother-in-law of the pub’s owner, Nickola Hood, said the thieves spent a long period “creeping” around the pub before they left with cash.
She said that the thieves even raided charity tins.
She said: “They took money out of the Haven’s Hospice and Help for Heroes charity boxes.
“The fruit machine was broken into and they took the whole of the till.
“I wouldn’t want to put a figure on it but hundreds was taken.”
The incident took place at around 2.20am, according to CCTV footage recorded on Monday.
They remained inside the pub until around 3.10am.
An Essex Police spokesman, said: "Police received reports of a burglary at the Horse and Groom pub, in Southend Road, Rochford, between 2.20am and 8.30am on Monday, January 22.
"Suspects forced entry to the public, searched the building before taking cash. They also damaged a fruit machine before leaving.
"Anyone with information is asked to contact Southend police station on 101 quoting crime reference 42/10057/18 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
The Horse and Groom has been a victim of attempted thefts in the past.
In February 2015, the pub was broken into by four teenagers.
They smashed a window at the building to get in, however, nothing was stolen.
Mrs Hood said: “My son and daughter-in-law are devastated, they were asleep upstairs when it was happening.
“They have footage on CCTV, they were creeping around the ground floor for a long time.”
Mrs Hood said it is believed the thieves ran down Watts Lane at the side of the pub as they made their escape.
She added they had stolen a host of paperwork which they threw away while running down the alley.
Mrs Hood said: “Pubs do not make a whole lot of money nowadays so it’s really sad these things are happening.”
Scott Hood, Nickola’s husband, said that the thieves took vases from the pub, however, they discarded them and they were recovered with the paperwork in Watts Lane.
He added they broke into the pub by smashing a kitchen window and entering through to the bar from there. He said: “They must have walking around for a long time, and they took a chance.
“They chipped away at the window frame and pulled the glass towards them.
“None of us woke up when they were downstairs, even the dog didn’t wake up.”
Following the incident on Monday morning, the pub was reopened as normal that day.
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