THIEVES RAID FIRM TWO DAYS AFTER RE-OPENING
CRUEL thieves who broke into and stole from a family business just two days after it had re-opened have left the owners devastated.
The founders and staff of Biker School Glasgow have been left gutted following the robbery that took place in the early hours of yesterday morning.
More than £2000 worth equipment was taken.
Alan Boyce, one of the founders, headed in for the third day of trading after the easing of coronavirus restrictions when he came across the damage.
He said: “I went in this morning to find out the place had been burgled. You walk in the door and your heart just sinks. I was nearly in tears.
“It’s a family-run business, we put our heart and soul in to opening it as well as our time, effort and savings.
“We’ve been trying to deal with the Covid situation. We’re of near the end of the road and had started to get moving – it’s like someone just letting the air out of your balloon.
“This is a family-run business, so it’s not just myself that feels it.”
The motorcycle training centre, on Renfrew Road, opened in April 2019.
Alan, 43, added: “We have been closed since before Christmas. We opened up on April 26 so had only been trading for two days.
“It’s been difficult to keep the business throughout lockdown.
“We’ve not even been opened two years – we’ve lost nine months of trading throughout the last year.”
The heartless thieves broke in through a side window after forcing a shutter up, and stole £2000 worth of items including motorcycle clothing, a mobile phone, cash and bike certificates.
Following the robbery, the business had to remain closed for the day yesterday to get it back in order. trying afloat
A training course that was meant to take place had to be cancelled.
But Alan and the team have been left humbled by the response after sharing the bad news on Facebook.
He said: “We would just like to thank everybody who responded and shared the Facebook appeal, we have been really humbled by it. One of our students came in and changed all our locks.
“Another motorcycle school, Harley’s Rider Training, phoned up and asked if there’s anything they could do and that they wanted to give us a hand. It’s so humbling.
“The biking industry has taken a hit through Covid and the fact that they’re offering help is really nice.”
Police Scotland confirmed that inquiries are ongoing.
A spokeswoman said: “We received a report of a break-in and theft to a premises on Renfrew Road, Glasgow, which is believed to have occurred overnight. Inquiries are at an early stage and ongoing.”