Southampton café Board in the City devastated after break in

Hayley Binstead said Board in the City lost a large quantity of products ‘in five minutes’.

The Onslow Road café was targeted in the early hours of Wednesday, January 3.

Various board games were stolen, according to police.

Hayley Binstead, managing director of Board in the City (Image: Newsquest)

The 52-year-old managing director said: “This is the third time we’ve had a break-in in eight years, so nothing surprises me.

“I can’t believe we are still here, but we have survived three break-ins, a pandemic, and a cost-of-living crisis.

“We sold our house to keep this place going.”

Hayley stood firm by the fact the café would reopen – regardless of the break-in.

Speaking on the day of the incident, she said: “This is our first day opening in 2024 so there’s no money in here which is a godsend.

“We are reopening tonight as we can’t not open.

“The rent still needs to be paid with a break-in or not.”

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Hayley broke the news to supporters on social media and was met with an influx of support.

Donations began rolling in, along with several offers of help.

She said: “What’s absolutely wonderful is that our community has already made donations and helped us.

“These games bring so much joy and escapism to people’s lives, this is a phenomenal place.

“We are out of pocket, and we have the broken windows to repair on top of that.

“The café has been exposed because of this.”

Hayley also praised the quick response of the police who quickly attended.

She said: “The police were outstanding.

"We don’t have much here that’s worth anything, it’s just lots of cardboard. It would have been worse if there was a fire.”

Following the incident, Karl Alexander Fawcett, 41, of Cuckmere Lane, was charged with burglary, according to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.