Robbery gang could be behind John Lewis raids
A ‘PROFESSIONAL’ gang could be targeting large stores after John Lewis was raided for the third time in as many months.
Thieves broke into the company’s Cheadle store last Wednesday between 9pm and 9.30pm, making off with £12,000 of Mulberry and Michael Kors handbags.
Other large premises have also been targeted in break-ins and police say those responsible are well organised and can use industrial cutting tools to get in.
Previous burglaries at John Lewis, off Wilmslow Road, take the total value of goods stolen from the store to around £50,000.
A police spokesman said the raids at bigger businesses – with the greater rewards involved – show all retailers, not just smaller more vulnerable targets, need to take security steps.
He said: “Offenders will target somewhere they feel security is vulnerable, large or small, so no one can be complacent.
“Some of the burglaries have been professional and organised and there have been two or three with a similar method. With the items stolen from John Lewis we will be looking to see if they are being sold on eBay and people should be wary of being offered cheap goods in pubs.”
The thieves got into John Lewis through a rear fire exit after approaching from Etchells Road.
Another Stockport business, Carpet Right, at the Peel Centre, was raided between 6.30pm on Friday and 9am on Saturday. Thieves cut chains to get in its yard, forced a door open and used a grinding device to open the safe. The cash inside – only £70 – was stolen. Four men also tried to break into Booker Cash and Carry, on Yew Street, Heaton Mersey, just after midnight on Tuesday, February 14.
They were disturbed by police as they were trying to cut through shutters and escaped.
Previous raids at John Lewis saw sunglasses, cosmetics and handbags stolen on November 27 last year and similar items again on December 29.
And Nando’s at the Peel Centre had its safe cracked open in a burglary last month, with £3,500 stolen.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.