‘We’re a hammer blow away from extinction’
Boss issues warning as thieves target city arts venue for FOURTH time
Thieves have again targeted Sunderland’s Pop Recs arts venue.
The building in High Street West, which is undergoing renovation, was broken into for the fourth time last Tuesday night, the venue’s Facebook page announced.
Instruments and equipment worth hundreds of pounds belonging to the Sunderland Young Musicians Project were stolen when the building was burgled in May.
Frankie and the Heartstrings drummer Dave Harper and guitarist Michael McKnight run Pop Recs and Dave described what had happened in the latest break-in in a post on the page.
"In the early hours of last Tuesday morning our prospective new home on High Street West was broken into for the fourth time,” he said.
"They got away with the only thing remaining that belonged to Pop Recs in the building, the coffee machine. They also stole a wheelbarrow to nick it, which was a lovely touch.
"We are genuinely trying to build a resource which make communities and particularly the East End an easier place to be and build a music venue which is not over ambitous and can house a dedicated youth service which was always at the core of everything creative to be exported from this city.
"Like everyone, we are another hammer blow away from extinction but I’m positive that after things go back to a sense of what was normal that something like Pop Recs has a big role to play in helping a community to readapt and offer something positive because this is going to be a long and challenging recovery.”
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “We can confirm we are investigating a report of a burglary at the Pop Recs store on High Street West in Sunderland.
"It happened between 5pm on Tuesday, July 21, and 6.30am on Wednesday, July 22. It was reported that intruders forced entry to the store and stole a wheel barrow and a coffee machine.
"Witnesses have reported seeing the men use the wheelbarrow to transport the coffee machine away from the shop at around 6.30am on Wednesday. Inquiries to identify and locate those responsible are ongoing and anyone with information that may assist police is asked to contact officers on 101 quoting log 510 23/07/20.”