Owner of Leighton Buzzard play village thanks 'lovely customers' for support after break-in
The owner of Funtivity Play Village is staying positive after her business was burgled this week.
Ciara Thomson, 29, is thanking customers and fellow shopkeepers for their support after her unit on Waterborne Walk was hit just after midnight on Tuesday morning (November 3).
But Ciara made sure that the play village was open the next day, and is now looking ahead planning special activities for Christmas and New Year and setting up a fundraising page for anyone who may be able to help cover the cost of the damage.
Ciara said: "I was a bit shaken up really. One of our customers messaged on Tuesday morning at around 8am to say that we'd been broken into.
"Immediately my heart just sank. It's a violation – you just feel like somebody's been in your space. You don't know what's been damaged or what's been taken."
Ciara didn't enter the building initially, and phoned the police. It was later discovered that the offender had taken a till drawer, which "was empty – and had been discarded a few businesses down".
Ciara claimed: "We have got the video and he [the suspect] had a face covering.
"We believe he just kicked the glass in. It looks like he was an opportunist – a quick cash grab. Thankfully, he hadn't targeted the actual 'village'."
The repairs have so far cost in the region of £1,000, although Ciara is grateful that the business was able to reopen on Wednesday (November 4).
And referring to the fundraising page, she writes that there's "absoutley no pressure to donate anything – we know times are tough".
Ciara said: "The community have been incredibly supportive. People have just been really lovely, and saying that they don't know why someone would target a children's play village?
"Lots of businesses were helping and looking through CCTV."
Ciara first opened the 'village' doors in November 2024 whilst she was still on maternity leave, and recently celebrated its 2nd birthday.
And thanks to her hard work and dedication, she has created a special community for new parents.
Ciara said: "I struggled with postnatal depression and really wanted mums to have somewhere they could go during the week so they wouldn't be stuck at home – and would have someone to talk to – someone who has also being going through the sleepless nights.
"We host our 'Mummy meet ups' once a month, and I've seen children take their first steps here."
The play village has a hospital, supermarket, construction area, hair salon, and baby area.
The village is open seven days a week. Visit their website for more information and keep an eye on their social media page for Christmas and New Year events.
The LBO has reached out to Bedfordshire Police for a comment.