Save us from high street break-in hell
Traders issue appeal for police action after spree of burglaries
INDEPENDENT retailers in a Rawtenstall high street have called on police to take action after a recent spate of break-ins. Sophie Nash opened her clothing store in the town centre this year, but was left heartbroken last week when she was targeted by thieves.
She said: “This can’t keep happening to us. I am not the first business to be broken into in the past week. Something needs to be done; why are the police not patrolling the streets at night?”
Cobbler Martin Jefferson has been based in Bank Street for 40 years. He said: “We’ve all been saying we want an increased police presence.
“You never really see any police in the street but given what’s gone on lately, you would like to think they will dedicate more time to protecting our businesses.”
INDEPENDENT retailers in a high street have called on police to take action after a recent spate of break-ins.
Sophie Nash opened her independent clothing store in Rawtenstall town centre earlier this year, but was left heartbroken last week when she was targeted by thieves.
Miss Nash arrived at her shop, Sophie’s Boutique in Bank Street, one morning to discover the front door had been smashed and her till had been emptied.
“We can’t believe someone would do this, especially to us local businesses,” she said.
“My heart goes out to all of my fellow small businesses on Bank Street, and in Lancashire; this can’t keep happening to us. I am not the first business to be broken into in the past week.
“Something needs to be done; why are the police not patrolling the streets at night? Luckily, the culprit didn’t damage the premises too much so I am still able to stay open, however, money was taken, windows and panels smashed and knocked through, and my shop has now been tarnished by someone.
“It’s such a terrifying situation, and not something any employees or employers should have to go through.
“Let’s hope the police attempt to catch these scumbags. How many more businesses does this need to happen to?”
Sophie’s Boutique is based at 65 Bank Street which was previously occupied by butcher Mark Harrison. Mr Harrison moved to new premises in nearby
Bacup Road around three years ago.
“We are aware of a number of break-ins recently,” he told the Free Press.
“We’ve read about it on social media and it’s a worry. We have CCTV and do everything we can to keep things safe but what’s happening lately is very concerning.”
Lucy Waide owns Chockle’Art on Bank Street which was targeted by burglars on July 22. She said she is aware of break-ins or attempted burglaries at seven other town centre shops in the last few weeks.
“We’re not allowed shutters,” she said.
“Our businesses have already been through so much with lockdown. The thieves have never got away with much but they still keep breaking in.”
Cobbler Martin Jefferson has been based in Bank Street for 40 years.
“I’m aware there has been a spate of burglaries and it is very worrying,” he said. “We all talk to each other and we’ve all been saying we want an increased police presence.
“You never really see any police in the street but given what’s gone on lately, you would like to think they will dedicate more time to protecting our businesses.”
Bank Street has a large number of independent shops and Mr Jefferson says the retailers all “look out for each other”.
“It’s a really friendly high street,” he added.
“We all speak to each other and help each other out and what’s happened recently has made us all more cautious.”
Alan Phillips, whose daughter Tina has run boutique gift shop Coco & Co for five years, said: “We had an incident about three years ago when some guys came in the shop and got away with £300 worth of stuff through a credit card scam,” Mr Phillips said.
“We had CCTV footage, followed them to their car and got their number plate, and the police didn’t turn up about it so I don’t have much faith in them.
“There doesn’t seem to be much of a police presence in the high street; I can’t remember ever seeing any. There’s a lot more bars and pubs here now too so you would expect to see more officers.”
Naseem Mullah has owned his school uniform shop in Bank Street for almost half a century and has “seen it all”.
Mr Mullah said it’s “desperately sad” that, given the crisis the country is currently in, thieves are targeting independent stores.
Lancashire Constabulary has not provided any comment.