Lead thieves target Michelin restaurant
A TOP Birmingham restaurant is appealing for information after thieves broke in and stole roof lead, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
Burglars ripped off part of the roof from Michelin-starred Simpsons between Monday night and Tuesday morning, after breaking into the garden on Highfield Road, Edgbaston.
Head chef Nathan Eades later appealed on Twitter for any people to come forward with information, as it was revealed this is the second robbery of its kind in nine months.
Mel Harris, who heads marketing and social media at Simpsons, said: “Our assistant manager, Olivier, first spotted the garden furniture had been thrown into our fountain and thought it was strange,”
“Upon closer inspection, we realised our garden had been disturbed with broken light fittings and plants pulled out. It wasn’t until we turned round to come back into the restaurant, that we realised half of our roof was missing.
“It has been reported to the local police and at this stage, they can not be of any further help.
“We are checking over our CCTV footage in hope of catching the thieves on camera.”
Ms Harris also revealed that the restaurant was targeted last summer, when thieves also stole lead from the roof of a new champagne store.
She added: “We had a new champagne house built last summer and within two weeks the roof had been stolen.
“It could well be the same people, and both look like professional jobs.”
Builders are in the process of repairing the roof, and the restaurant remains open as usual to customers.
Chef director Luke Tipping added: “It’s not the first time it has happened to us. Someone, somewhere must have seen something or have some information to help us. We hope to get to the bottom of it this time.”