An Ely antiques dealer has said she is "devastated" after her stock was stolen in a burglary this month.

The seller, who wishes not to be named, told the Ely Standard that she was left asking, "at what level should I carry on", with the trade which she has been doing for seven years now.

Just under £2,500 of her stock was stolen from Waterside Antiques in Ely on June 6. The stolen good were all items of jewellery.

The antiques dealer said that she has "experienced" theft before, "but never on this scale".

She said: "It makes you feel insecure and it's a violation. Trading in this industry is just not safe anymore.

"The people that do this kind of thing have no morals and they take whatever they want. There isn't a strong enough deterrent and we've been let down by the system."

The cabinet after the break in shows empty boxes and gaps on the shelves where items were stolen.The cabinet after the break in shows empty boxes and gaps on the shelves where items were stolen. (Image: Waterside Antiques Centre)

The seller said that the burglary happened just before she went on holiday. She's since had to deal with the fallout.

Tom Peters rents out the spaces in the Waterside Antiques Centre to 90 traders. In his time, he's seen several dealers decide to shut shop after a burglary.

Mr Peters told the Ely Standard: "Jewellery is a large part of our trade and so many dealers are now saying that it isn't worth stocking it after all of these thefts.

"One theft can wipe out a business, and they're now a regular occurrence. This is a battle we're continuously losing."

Three gold rings can be seen missing from the cabinet.Three gold rings can be seen missing from the cabinet. (Image: Waterside Antiques Centre)

He described the spate of burglaries at the Waterside Antiques Centre over the years as "crushing".

Tom said: "The price of everything is going up nowadays, and then you get antique dealers who are burgled out of thousands of pounds. 

"These sellers are just trying to make an extra penny for themselves, and it gets taken away."

Recommended Reading: Ely Waterside Antiques Centre jewellery burglary on June 6

Cambridgeshire Police said in a statement: "We received a report on June 12 of a business burglary at Waterside Antiques, Ely, which had taken place on June 6 at about 4.45pm.

"An investigation was launched, but the case has now been filed pending further information coming to light."