A DEVASTATED candlemaker has had £1,000 worth of stock stolen after her home workshop was broken into.

Mandy Paterson, from Westcliff, makes bespoke candles labelled ‘Coco & Ginger’ in a garage at the back of her house.

Echo:

Devastated - Mandy Paterson

Mandy’s partner discovered that her workshop had been broken into after their dog began barking around 4.30am on Monday.

The 54-year-old told the Echo: “I am so upset. I make everything myself, it’s my livelihood, I’m so close to it all - it’s my passion.

“Ive been trying to build this business for three years - I’m still not in profit, and so I don’t qualify for government help. It’s hit really hard.

“I couldn’t be in there [the workshop] yesterday even though I’ve got stuff to make.

“I’m fearful as well - It’s like someone broke into a shop. There’s a lot in there - what if he comes back? He knows it’s there now.”

Mandy called the police and managed to get some CCTV footage off a neighbour’s ring doorbell showing a man on a bicycle climbing over their fence and coming back over around 15 minutes later.

Unfortunately, the footage wasn’t clear enough to give officers anything to work from.

“The dog started barking around the time he’s [the thief] got into the garden and then my partner’s alarm went off and he tried to quiet the dog down but the dog wanted to go out.

“It was around 4.45am at this point and after letting him out he noticed the gate was open and realised what had happened and woke me up and said ‘I think they have been in your workshop’.

“I walked in there and there was boxes everywhere and two and half cubby holes had been cleared.”

Mandy, who makes candles, diffusers and wax melts, added:

“I’ve been making candles almost four years. The stock taken was worth about £1,000.

“It’s all unique, and heavily branded - Coco & Ginger - so if anyone is offered it, it’s stolen.”

Mandy uses a free app which helps communities work together by advertising services or selling unwanted items.

Her profile on the app says the street she lives on and also a link to her website.

She added: “Because of the lockdown I haven’t done any events and I don’t really have any local customers so can’t understand how he would have known where the workshop was.

“The only thing that has concerned me slightly is the app which says what street I live on and I have advertised my website.”

Contact Essex Police on 101 quoting reference 42/63509/20.