Fury as thieves break into children’s centre
JON MACPHERSON
ACHILDREN’S centre owner said she is ‘livid’ after they were targeted by burglars.
Up to five offenders broke into The Beach Hut Play and Party Centre, in Great Harwood, during the early hours of Saturday, August 6.
Melanie Jones, who has run the centre for 18 months, said they ‘trashed’ the offices and broke doors and windows.
CCTV pictures have now been released by the children’s centre in the hope of identifying the crooks.
Melanie, 36, said: “At the minute we are not sure how much they’ve taken but they’ve trashed the office and broken doors to get in there.
“Before they managed to get downstairs into the play area the alarm has gone off.
“I’m absolutely livid and I’m furious about it. Everybody is really upset and shocked about it.”
The Beach Hut, on Park Road, caters for hundreds of children up to the age of 12 years old every week and is currently hosting a summer holiday club.
Melanie, who lives in Whalley, said they were forced to close early on Saturday because of the break-in but they are now operating as normal.
She said: “I got a call out from the intruder alarm people at 2am and we have got them on camera going across the car park at about 1.30am.
“They must have been either outside or inside the premises for about half an hour.
“We had an attempted break-in some time ago but this is the first time affected over the weekend because I needed time away to speak to the police.
“I couldn’t do my normal role and we had to close early on Saturday.”
Lancashire Police said they were called to the scene at 2.32am on Saturday, August 6 to reports the alarm had gone off.
A spokesperson said: “The offenders had ransacked the office and had taken out a window pane to get in.
“They had search the office and left.
“It’s not clear at the moment if anything has been taken.”
No arrests have yet been made.
Anyone with information call police on 101 quoting log number 217 of August 6.