Police investigate after Housmans Bookshop burgled

Police are investigating after burglars broke into London's Housmans Bookshop and stole the store's cash drawer and charity box on Wednesday night (20th August). 

The shop in Caledonian Road, King's Cross had hosted an event earlier that evening and staff had locked up as usual. But when staff arrived on Wednesday morning they found there had been a break-in. 

The cash drawer was taken as well as the shop's charity box for Haven Distribution with supplies books to prisoners. 

on Thursday (22nd August) to clear up the mess and talk to police. 

Co-manager Cristine Rios told The Bookseller: "We think that they broke in through the back room window. They tried to get away with the cash drawer, we found broken scissors and a broken letter opener. It looked like they had tried to break into the drawer and prise it open but they couldn't so they took the whole thing and they took the charity box for Havens." 

The shop got away with limited damage and no books were taken in the incident, according to Rios. "It could have been much worse. But we are back open today and back to business as usual," she said. 

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said a quantity of cash was taken and no arrests have been made. 

Housmans, based in Kings Cross, London since 1959, specialises in books, magazines, and periodicals of radical interest and progressive politics, such as feminism, black politics, LGBTQIA+, environment, anarchism. 

The break-in comes days after children's bookshop Round Table in Brixton was forced to temporarily cease trading after

. The shop was forced to close for half a day on its busiest day of trade last Saturday (17th August) and has now . 

Booksellers Association m.d. Meryl Halls said: “Bookshops are such benign and positives places in our communities that it’s particularly shocking  when they’re the victims of crime.  What sort of person would burgle or smash a bookshop, you have to wonder?  So we’re always concerned and worried when our members suffer a criminal attack; both shops are run by robust and resilient teams but it nonetheless will take its toll.  The bookselling tribe will be on hand with moral and practical support, as always  - as will the BA and all the trade suppliers.  We wish Housmans and Round Table all the best as they get back to normal.”