Eateries are targeted by spate of break-ins
EMBATTLED food businesses in Rawtenstall town centre were left counting the cost after a spate of devastating break-ins.
Eateries on the town’s market were targeted, along with a vegetarian store on Kay Street on Saturday night, January 23.
The owners of recentlyopened vegan market restaurant Tahina Middle Eastern were forced to stop takeaways after thieves ‘ransacked’ the place, stealing the cash box, knives and damaging the stall.
Pizza Box Market said they have been broken into on successive Saturdays - January 16 and 23 with last weekend’s more serious incident preventing them from opening on Sunday.
The joint owner of Simply Vegetarian, on Kay Street, confirmed they were also broken into over the weekend, having been alerted on Sunday morning by a dog walker. A pane of glass was smashed and three charity boxes stolen.
Tahina owner Nadia, who said their neighbouring market Thai Shack was also hit, has said the abundance of support she has received from customers on social media has been ‘overwhelming’.
She said: “It has been so heartwarming and given us extra energy this week to get back to normal and get on with it. It was a shock as it happened in a small town, but that’s the situation we are in at the moment with everything when people are desperate. They broke in, took items, like our cash box, while they did over some of the stalls next to us, to. They caused a lot of damage to the unit, and they took some of our knives, which is a little bit worrying.”
The store - which sells plant-based food inspired by the Middle East - only opened last summer.
On Sunday afternoon Tahina wrote on Facebook: “Last night Tahina was broken in to along with our neighbour markets Thai Shack, Pizza Box Market.”
Pizza Box Market’s joint owner said: “On the Saturday night we got a phone call from the police to say the market had been broken into. My husband is still replacing all the doors. The stall had suffered lots of damage, plus the theft of an iPad, alcohol and meat, and the fridge doors had been left open. We were devastated, but the community has been amazing with the support and messages that have come in.”
A council spokesperson said: “The council share in the frustration and upset that the stall holders who were affected feel at this mindless destruction.
“There is very little of value ever left in the stalls overnight so the damage to property and equipment is even more upsetting. Businesses are struggling to just survive at the moment. We have repaired the damage that was done, and all stall holders will be able to open up as usual again on Thursday (market day). We have cooperated fully with the police and understand there is clear CCTV footage.” Rossendale Police were also contacted for comment.