A SOUTHAMPTON business has been targeted by thieves for the ninth time in three years.

Mettricks Tea and Coffee House, which has three branches in Southampton and another in Beaulieu, has been broken into five times in 2016 alone.

Thieves broke into the Mettrick’s Guildhall branch in June, while the Bargate branch was targeted on July 29, with thieves smashing down the back door, breaking computer equipment and making away with a small amount of petty cash.

After the June break-in at Mettrick’s Guildhall, 18-year-old Harry Lawrence set up a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for repairs.

The student from Littleton, Winchester, has now handed over the £400 he raised over two months, while staff and customers at the coffee shop have organised a weekend of events designed to raise vital funds for the business.

MetFest is a weekend of entertainment at the Guildhall and High Street branches and will include live music, real ale, a barista competition and coffee masterclasses taking place this weekend.

Manager Tom Godwin said: “Mettricks feels so happy that our passionate staff have become enthused enough to organise such an event off their own backs.

"It shows the commitment and care our staff, alongside some of their local friends, feel for our company and we hope that they continue to feel passionate about our company.

“We truly appreciate all of their efforts to put on such an interesting and exciting event, and we’re sure it will be a fantastic success with the help of the public.”

Speaking after the June break-in, Mettricks owner Spencer Bowman said: “Right now my heart is feeling pretty broken.

“We work really hard to support our city, culturally, economically – talking it up whenever and wherever we can and taking an active approach and just getting involved.

“Right now, we could do with our city to give us a bit of support back.”

As reported by the Daily Echo, businesses across the city centre were targeted 200 times by thieves and burglars in the first six months of this year.

It led entrepreneur Mr Bowman, whose shops employ 54 people, to write to city council leader Simon Letts calling for improved CCTV, street lighting and policing.

He said he was thinking about quitting the city if things did not improve.