Burglars target shops in revamp
ABUSINESSMAN says he feels ‘helpless’ after improvement works left him vulnerable for weeks to opportunistic burglars.
Hassan Zaheer, of the Mobilink phone repair shop, is among shop owners on Blackburn Road, Accrington, to sign up for a Hyndburn council shopfront refurbishment scheme. The Townscape Heritage Initiative Project (THI) is providing grants covering the bulk of the bill for restoration works.
But after scaffolding was erected by contractors, Mr Zaheer says he fell victim to two break-ins where offenders gained access via the roof. He says there have been other break-ins at neighbouring stores on the high street in recent weeks, which council leader Miles Parkinson has vowed to raise with Lancashire Police.
Mr Zaheer told the Observer: “They put scaffolding outside and the burglar used that scaffolding to get up on the building and break slates off the roof. I am helpless.”
Mr Zaheer has installed cameras and sensors which alerted him to two break-in attempts last month and allowed him to call the police before anything was stolen. However, he says he has suffered damage to his roof and ceiling. Earlier this week he called a meeting with contractors to discuss the security of the scaffolding, but was told it could be up for another three weeks.
Coun Parkinson said: “I walk up the high streets most days and I was talking to Mr Zaheer and other shopkeepers as well about their concerns regarding break-ins and thefts.”
He said the council’s licensing department would be revisiting measures it has brought in such as town centre banning orders for prolific shoplifters and contacting landlords over tenants handling stolen property.
The council leader added: “It’s pleasing to see that Mr Zaheer has taken up the heritage lottery grant, and having it done. If you go down Blackburn Road you will see several with scaffolding up. Of course, this does make it easier, unfortunately, for those who for their own purposes break into property. This is something I will be raising with the [police] inspector. In this difficult time we all want to support our high streets and the last thing we want is numerous break-ins or thefts.”
●● Michael Ellison, 34, of Blackburn Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty at Preston Magistrates Court on August 29 to a non-dwelling burglary, was given a community order and ordered to pay compensation.