Shop staff in fear over spate of burglaries
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STAFF at town centre businesses say they are working in fear after a spate of overnight burglaries.
At least eight premises in Accrington have been raided over the last two weeks including a church, charity organisation, tanning salon, hairdressers, estate agents and cafe.
Items stolen include several charity boxes and thousands of pounds worth of electrical and cosmetic equipment.
Thompson and Partners estate agents on Blackburn Road was broken into between 5.30pm on February 17 and 10am on February 18.
A spokesperson said: “This is about the sixth time we have been burgled in the last few years.
“It’s been very disruptive. We came in on Saturday, which is one of our busiest days, and the first thing we had to do was start cleaning up.
“It makes us feel very unsafe as you don’t know who is watching.
“I’ve been on this site for 35 years. Each time it happens we’ve had to spend more money to stop them getting in.
“It’s annoying because you can’t work in town with the feeling of them getting in at some point.”
Hyndburn Homewise on Whalley Road, a char- ity which helps older people, was burgled between 8.30pm on February 21 and 8am on February 22, with two charity boxes stolen.
Carole Perkin, service manager at Hyndburn Homewise, said: “It was the next day when we came into work and found out.
“We had to close the office for about an hour while the police were here.
“It had a big impact on the receptionist. We are all back to normal now.”
Other premises targeted include Keenans Estate Agents on February 13, Rent The House on February 14, Jake Alexander hair salon on February 17, the Peel Street Baptist Church between 11am and midnight on February 20, Oasis tanning salon on Blackburn Road between February 20 and 21, and a cafe on Abbey Street between 5.30am and 7.45am on February 23.
Anthony Ford, police watch liaison officer, has urged businesses in Accrington to be extra vigilant and to check that security alarms and CCTV equipment are working.
Police say a man has been arrested on suspicion of burglary.
‘It makes us feel very unsafe as you don’t know who is watching’