Rossendale Free Press

Newsagents also hit by series of break-ins

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THE victims of the arson attack say they are considerin­g quitting their newsagents business after a series of break-ins unrelated to Hitchin or the arson attack.

Adrian Watts, who runs Watts’ Newsagents on Burnley Road East with his wife Caroline, said they have been hit by three break-ins in the last 18 months, as well being the victims of criminal damage. The father-of-three said: “We have had problems with the door being smashed three times by hoodlums. We have had a lot of problems and got to the stage where you think, ‘why do I bother?’.

“We have been broken into three times throughout the last year and a half. And all of them took less than £200. It’s always one thing after another.

“Since the last time we have kept the window permanentl­y boarded up so it doesn’t happen again.

“We haven’t got the heart to put anything back in, but we think it’s them that should be behind bars, not us.”

Alongside the newsagents, Adrian also teaches cycling in primary schools and is involved with the Rossendale Road Club.

He added: “If we didn’t live there we’d probably just close it up and move on but it’s not that easy.

“Caroline would pack up and leave tomorrow, but we’re still trying to look after our staff. That’s nothing to do with the customers who we really value, it’s to do with the hassle and all the breakins and bricks coming through the windows.”

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