A well-known Napier jewellery, handbag and accessories store has been hit in an early-morning burglary.

Beija Flor, on the corner of Hastings and Tennyson Sts, was burgled about 3.20am today.

Police attended the scene and a spokesperson said they are making inquiries.

Owner Penny Nelson had been at the store since 4am and said it was the first time they had been burgled since she took over in 2014.

Nelson said the burglars broke into the store in the early hours of the morning and had been caught on CCTV and scared off by the store’s alarm system.

“They were disturbed fairly quickly, but unfortunately in the time that they were able to get inside, they managed to smash up some cabinets, steal some stock, and make a huge mess that is now up to my team to tidy up,” she said.

Replacing the store’s bespoke glass cabinets would be a two-week exercise happening at the start of the store’s busiest trading period of the year.

“It’s been a very challenging year for retail, generally, for all of us,” Nelson said.

“We’re about to start next week with Christmas here and we’re finally getting into that season where we all might make some money that keep us here and keeps us trading.

“These are just setbacks we can do without, really.”

Nelson said the store was open as usual and she was looking forward to seeing local customers and those off the cruise ships, with the first ship set to arrive in Napier on Thursday.

Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and has worked in radio and media in the UK, Germany, and New Zealand.