TWO schoolfriends who opened a computer games store two weeks ago have lost thousands of pounds-worth of stock in a burglary.

Franchisee Chris Muckell returned to work at CHIPS, in Chapel Mews at Ashford ready for the post-Christmas rush to find thieves had ripped the alarm off the front of the store, thrown a sink through one of the windows and forced their way in with a crowbar.

The burglary is thought to have happened around 1am. “I couldn’t believe it when I pulled up after the trek here on the M20 at 20mph in the snow,” said Mr Muckell, who lives in Dover.

“They tried to come in with a crowbar through the front door. They were obviously determined to get in.

“It was such a shock coming in to this. Outrage is the word to describe how I felt.”

The shop opened on December 16, selling new and second-hand consoles, games, DVDs and accessories.

It was the realisation of a dream for Mr Muckell and his business partner Stuart McNeill, both aged 25.

But now he estimates that on top of the stolen stock, which included Game Boys, Xboxes and PlayStations, the damage to the store would also cost thousands of pounds.

“It’s the software that’s the worst part. They cost about £30 apiece so it only takes a couple of handsful to add up to a couple of thousand pounds,” Mr Muckell added.

“It is all secured again. We have repaired the alarms and the door and we are going to look into getting some extra security.”

Mr Muckell said he was hoping to get the store up and running again.