A CLEANER has been left out of pocket following a burglary at a hall in Petersfield town centre.

Around £25 of petty cash - including the cleaner’s wages - was stolen during a break-in at the Physic Garden Hall last Monday.

The culprit even stole the metal bars and flashing from the window which was smashed to gain entry to the premises.

The incident happened sometime between 9.30pm and 7.30am according to Physic Garden committee member, Adrian Milmer.

The hall is currently hosting an Art Collective Exhibition but the burglar left the display untouched.

"I thought whoever did it might be after the stuff in the exhibition but it was fine and they left through the fire escape," said Mr Milmer.

"They went through the office window and took some time doing that because it’s reinforced glass with iron bars inside.

"The iron bars are missing so they must have taken them to sell as scrap, and they took the petty cash."

The burglary is not the first in the area as the Winton House Centre and two Folly Lane businesses have been broken into in recent months.

"The burglary was reported to us on the morning of Tuesday, July 30," said a spokeswoman for Hampshire police.

"It was believed to have occurred overnight between 9.20pm on Monday, July 29, and 7am on July 30.

"Suspects have smashed a window and broken through internal bars to gain access to the office."

Witnesses or anyone with information should call Hampshire Police on 101 quoting crime reference number 44190267370 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.