Foiled thieves torch garage

CHARRED office: boss Stuart Nutter counts the cost of the fire started by thieves frustrated they couldn’t get into the safe

RAIDERS caused £20,000 worth of damage to an Oldham business after setting it on fire when they couldn’t find anything to steal.

Police are investigating the torching of the office building at Speedy Clutch in Abbeyhills Road.

The culprits forced a window before trying to prise open a safe holding keys to cars on the site.

Unable to open the safem, the thieves stole a chainsaw before setting three different fires.

The fire was put out by staff next morning.

Owner Stuart Nutter said: “When we opened up the shutters were warm and the fire was still going.

“The office was completely trashed. With the repair work I’d say it will cost over £20,000.

“You can see where they have tried to open the floor safe and when they couldn’t they set three different fires, they obviously wanted to cause damage. We’re all appalled.”

The fire has hit the business’s prospects too. Stuart expects to lose up to £1,000 a week in business until the damage is repaired.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.