Raiders on the rampage

Reporter: Jacob Metcalf
Date published: 04 November 2016


SHOCKED business owners endured a week of Hallowe'en horror after falling victim to a spate of burglaries which saw hundreds of pounds stolen and properties damaged.

A number of firms around Market Street, Shaw, feel they have been targeted after several break-ins throughout this week.

Burglars used a brick to smash through the windows of Tyro Cleaners, on Saturday morning at around 5.30am after failing to prise the door open with a crow bar.

After seeing the till was empty, the intruder fled empty-handed, but not before slamming it on the floor. In total they caused £250 worth of damage to the dry-cleaners.

At around the same time someone attempted to break into The Flower Patch, which opened just eight weeks ago, a short distance away on Rochdale Road, but they failed.

The Shay Wake was broken into some time between Sunday evening and Monday morning ­- a small amount of damage was caused but nothing taken.

Smashed
Two more businesses then fell victim between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.

Thieves smashed through the back door at Shaw Veterinary Surgery and stole a safe containing £320 which was bolted to the floor.

The intruders also went through a drugs cabinet but did not take anything.

The other was a renewed attempt to break into The Flower Patch where, after unscrewing metal spikes on top of steel fencing, raiders smashed in a window but failed to gain access and so forced another open before stealing £120 from the florist. It was also reported that a nearby hairdresser's suffered a similar fate.

The businesses owners affected feel the string of attacks, which have left them stressed and frustrated, are connected and were committed by someone who was organised rather than an opportunist.

Gareth Kay, owner of The Flower Patch, said: "They just took money, they didn't do much damage but it is frustrating and annoying.

"It is unsettling because when you go home at night you think have I done all I can to secure the shop? It is obviously someone who is organised because of all the incidents, it does make you a bit cynical."

Jonathon Lees, owner of Shaw Veterinary Surgery, said: "It's very frustrating. It's disruption for the business. It's stress for our staff and stress for me, not to mention the money we have lost."

Craig White, who runs Tyro Cleaners, felt the damage done to the till was a malicious act after the burglar had seen it was empty.

He said: "Altogether the damage they have caused has cost around £250. It is just the annoyance. It could have been worse, they could have taken all the cleaning from the shop.

"They knew what they were doing because they came all tooled up. These people are not chancers."

Eddie Gershon, a spokesman for JD Wetherspoon, said: "Obviously this was a unfortunate incident but apart from making some mess there was little damage to the pub and fortunately nothing was taken."

A week before the latest burglaries, on October 27, Electric Beach Tanning salon, on Princess Street, Shaw, also fell victim to a break in when two men broke in.

The pair entered the shop at around 2.30am after they threw two large rocks through its window. CCTV footage caught the men rooting around before they left with some stock and handbags which the salon sells. After 15 minutes the two men returned and stole a television.

Saira Anwas, one of the owners, said: "It's just not a very nice feeling knowing that somebody has entered the salon without your permission. There is a lot of uncertainty with shopkeepers in Shaw at the moment."

Police are currently investigating and the incidents are not being treated as linked at this time. Anyone with information is asked to call 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555 111.