Rooftop raiders in double strike

Double trouble . . . convenience store owner Mohammed Zaffar shows where thieves broke into his shop twice

Lightning may not strike twice in the same place, but shopkeeper Mohammed Zaffar is counting the cost of two break-ins by rooftop burglars.

He lost thousands of pounds on Sunday when raiders broke into his Henshaw Street shop, dismantling the CCTV, and stealing two tills, cigarettes, Lottery cash from a safe, and alcohol.

He had just restocked and bought a new till when there was another break in through the same spot, early yesterday morning.

He said: “This time whoever broke in tried to break into a cash machine, but didn’t get any money, cleared me out of alcohol which I had restocked, took my new till, and stole a back door key and fobs for the shutter.

“I managed to open, but I couldn’t open on Sunday until the afternoon.

“The police found my new till burned out on Oldham Edge, but I’m having to change all the locks, and I lost £500 to £600 trade on Sunday, and more today.”

Mr Zaffar has run the shop, St Mary’s Convenience Store, for four years, and also sells groceries, newspapers, and household goods.

He added: “The police told me they had arrested and bailed someone after the first burglary.

“But the bad weather meant they couldn’t get forensic staff up to me yesterday after the second raid. I’ve had thefts before but nothing as bad as this. I just hope they catch whoever is responsible and lock them up.”

Police confirmed they were investigating.