Garden centre defies charity box thieves Fundraiser to replace lost cash
Stolen bikes go on show
A75-YEAR-STRONG Rochdale business is striking back after a charity box theft, with an upcoming fundraising day for the impacted charities.
Family-run business, Gordon Rigg Garden Centre, on Moss Bridge Road, Kingsway, was targeted by three thieves on Friday night.
They smashed glass to break into the centre, before filling 75th anniversary commemorative bags with sweets, and then breaking the charity boxes to steal the cash inside them.
The garden centre had boxes for the RSPCA, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Macmillan Breast Cancer and pink boxes also for breast cancer.
Manager John Jackson, 53, has been manager for 26 years and worked at the centre since he was 20.
He has been left furious by the theft - but is now planning a charity fun day on the car park to raise money for each of the charities, with the date to be confirmed.
A 17-year-old male was arrested on September 15 on suspicion of burglary.
John said: “We have had break-ins before but this has been the lowest of the low.
“We have never had charity boxes taken before.
“They stole packets of sweets and pop too and emptied the tills even though there were just pennies in them.
“It is just disgusting - everybody is disgusted.
“The story on Facebook has gone as far as Edinburgh because it’s charity boxes that were stolen.”
John added that they can fix the tills, but not reclaim the cash.
So they will be having the fun day to raise money.
He said: “Whatever is raised will be donated to the charities that were stolen from.
“We are back in business - we were open on the Saturday and we just cleaned up.
“Hopefully it should get sorted but we can’t replace what’s gone.”
In a statement, GMP said: “We can confirm we received a report of a burglary
“Three offenders have forced entry to the premises before stealing items inside.
“A 17-year-old male has been arrested today on suspicion of burglary and remains in custody. Enquiries are ongoing.”
POLICE have recovered almost 70 stolen mountain bikes, as well as various power tools and are now on a mission to return them to their owners.
The items were seized from an address in Middleton - but officers believe they were stolen from across Greater Manchester.
Pictures have been posted online of the bikes and tools to help reunite the stolen goods with their owners - and an open day will take place on Saturday at Middleton Police Station.
A spokesperson from Greater Manchester Police said: “On the 8 June 2021, officers from GMP’S Middleton division raided a property on Wordsworth Road, Boarshaw, and subsequently recovered 68 mountains bikes and various different kinds of power tools that are believed to have been stolen from all around the Greater Manchester area.
Police Constable Andy Gray, of GMPS Rochdale division added: “We have recovered a large amount of stolen property and we would very much like to see it reunited to as many rightful owners as possible.
“Anyone is free to come along, all we ask is that you bring proof of purchase/ ownership of the item that you believe may belong to you, along with a form of ID.”
Anyone who believes an item pictured may belong to them, is asked to call Middleton Police Station on 0161 856 8701.
Note that the items pictured were all recovered on the June 8, 2021 ,so no property taken after that date will be shown.
PLANNING applications lodged with Rochdale Borough Council up to the week ending September 3 include: ●● AN application has been submitted for four non-illuminated wordmark signs on the east, south and west elevations of the building, and other various non-illuminated signs across the site, at Plot H Kingsway Business Park, John Milne Avenue, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for a balcony and new double doors to the first floor side extension, at 56 Smithy Bridge Road, Littleborough. ●● AN application has been submitted for the formation of vehicular access, including new entrance gate, at Middle Wicken View, 2 Todmorden Road, Littleborough. ●● AN application has been submitted for prior notification for a single-storey extension measuring 4.95m from the rear of the original dwelling, with a maximum height of 3.5m, and a height to the eaves of 2.6m, at 55 Railway Street, Newhey. ●● AN application has been submitted for a front and rear dormer extension, at 1 Bowland Grove, Milnrow. ●● DETAILS have been submitted to comply with conditions involving bat survey, invasive plant species, and construction environment management plan, in relation to a previously submitted application at The Soccer Village, Wildhouse Lane, Milnrow. ●● AN application has been submitted for prior notification for a single-storey extension measuring 4m from the rear of the original dwelling, with a maximum height of 3.65m, and a height to the eaves at 2.37m, at 16 Beechfield Road, Milnrow. ●● AN application has been submitted for a two-storey side and single-storey front extension, following the removal of the side conservatory, including render finish to the existing garage, at 62 Clay Lane, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been resubmitted for the erection of an attached dwelling within the side garden, including landscaping and boundary treatments, and the creation of off- street parking to the existing and proposed dwellings, at 1 Hollowspell, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for a two-storey side extension, first floor rear extension, and alteration to the fenestration on the side elevation, at 13 Bishop Street, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for a first floor side elevation, at 87A Mellor Street, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for a certificate of lawfulness for a single-storey rear extension and outbuilding, at 560 Rooley Moor Road, Rochdale. ●● AN application has been submitted for prior approval for a singlestorey extension measuring 4.5m from the rear of the original dwelling, with a maximum height of 3.77m, and a height to the eaves of 2.25m, at 14 Saw Mill Way, Littleborough.