VIDEO: Hunt for women who stole buggy from Horsham shop

Alex Wyver-Northam opened Fiesta Tots in June selling babies’ toys, clothes, equipment, maternity wear and buggies.

It has been reported to police that last Wednesday, September 10, at about 2.30pm two women came in and stole a black and white Mima Xari buggy. One of the women had been in the day before looking at the same pushchair.

Alex, 37, said: “They spent ages in here, I served somebody else while they were here. They were talking about deposits. They made it seem as if they were quite happy to pay.

“Then I went to the back of the shop. I turned my back for a second and thought ‘hang on it’s gone quiet’.”

The duo were gone, running in the direction of the Iron Bridge in Brighton Road.

She added: “It’s frustrating, but most of all I’m cross with myself.”

Alex set up her business online running it from her home in Rushams Road three years ago. In June she finally fulfilled her dream and opened her first shop.

The mum of three said: “I got to the point where I couldn’t work from home without putting a lot of hard work in - pay somebody to push us up the Google rankings for example.

“Opening a shop is what I wanted to do anyway, so we put all the money that was going to be our loft conversion into this.

“There was that flash thought that this is all too much and I don’t want to do it, but I love coming into work every day.

“One of my suppliers said you won’t want to come home and it would be my fourth baby and it really is.

“There have been downs, but they are microscopic compared with the ups.”

Alex said she would now be reviewing the layout of the shop and installing her own CCTV to complement the cameras in Piries Place.

Decriptions of the women have been given to police.

The first woman, who was at the shop on Tuesday and Wednesday, is described as white, 5ft 5ins, slim with a beer belly and in her late 20s.

She had a heavy Irish accent and was wearing a brown or red beret, a red top, skinny fit jeans and a black belt with a metal buckle.

The second woman was described as white, 5ft 3ins, in her late 20s, of medium or stocky build and appeared to be pregnant.

She had a heavy Irish accent, long blonde hair tied in a ponytail and was wearing dark trousers and a light top. Alex believes she was a smoker.

Sussex Police were called to Piries Place by Mrs Wyver-Northam at about 2.30pm last Wednesday. A spokesman said: “Officers are looking at CCTV footage recorded in the area and carrying out inquiries to try to identify the two women. Anyone with information should email [email protected] or call 101 quoting serial 857 of 10/09 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”