A family butcher in Haddenham became the fourth target in a string of similar burglaries as thieves stole cash and the staff Christmas tip box.

Ely Standard: Michael Beaumont Butchers in Fulbourn.Michael Beaumont Butchers in Fulbourn. (Image: Archant)

Harnwell & Sons Family Butchers was hit on Tuesday night whilst in Fulbourn £15,000 worth of Christmas meat was stolen from Michael Beaumont Butchers. In two separate incidents, meat and cheese worth more than £12,000 was stolen from a farm in Gamlingay, whilst £5,000 worth of the same products were stolen from Alms Hill, Bourn.

Harnwell Butchers, who recently opened a second shop in Ely, shared the news of Tuesday’s break-in on their Facebook page.

“Hello everyone, just a message to all our lovely customers. We got broken into last night, no meat was taken thankfully but all the cash we had on sight was,” read the post, which was shared on Wednesday (21).

“Petty cash, a small amount of Christmas club and most importantly the staff tip box money.

“If anybody has any information at all, however small it is, please contact the shop asap.

“The police are involved and fingerprints have been taken so we hope the horrible people that have done this are caught soon.”

Regarding the Fulbourn incident, a police spokesman said: “The theft happened between 6pm on December 20 and 8am on December 21 in High Street, Fulbourn.

“Approximately £15,000 of meat was taken from the location.

“We are keen to hear from anyone who was in the area and may have seen or heard something.

“We’d also like to hear from anyone who has been offered meat to purchase from an unfamiliar source.

“At this time of year any establishment selling poultry and meat can be vulnerable to burglary and theft.

“Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”

In a third incident meat and cheese worth more than £12,000 was stolen from a farm in Gamlingay.

Police said: “The incident happened between 12am and 2am in Potton Road Mill Hill on Sunday (December 11) when offenders broke into a storage room to steal the food, including turkey, beef, lamb and chicken, which was stored in refrigerators.”

The fourth incident happened on December 3 at about 6.20pm, when offenders broke into a property in Alms Hill, Bourn and stole meat and cheese worth more than £5,000 from fridges and freezers.

PCSO Leanne Fisher said: “We are keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time of these two incidents and may have seen something.

“We’d also like to hear from anyone who has been offered meat or cheese to purchase from an unfamiliar source.”

“Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”