‘We feel severely let down by all parties’
“We are trying really hard to make it nicer and for what? It’s just deflating.
“I know [the police] can’t lock them up and throw away the key but [the offenders] think it’s a joke and a game to them. They are not frightened. They are lawless.
“They have no respect for themselves so they definitely don’t have any respect for anybody else.
“They see it as a faceless crime. They think because you are insured right.”
Claire Ratcliffe-Wilson, who runs The Beauty Emporium, said they are living in ‘utter fear’ and that businesses in the area ‘have just about had enough’.
She said: “My business was broken into in July this year and I am still on with trying to rectify the damage while trying to maintain everyday business, focus on new projects and keep a happy workplace for my staff, while ultimately trying to keep them safe.
“I have not had a visit from anyone about the crime that was committed and so have had to keep up to date with things via liaising with other retailers and social media which is just not good enough. it’s all
“Accrington is on its knees and we are all trying to maintain investment in the town but feel severely let down by all parties that could be doing more i.e. the police, Hyndburn council, local councillors and the justice system.
“I therefore ask all of you what are you going to do about the security of our town nesses?”
A spokesperson for Angela Kay’s Beauty Salon said: “I strongly think that shops should be allowed to have shutters on their windows. CCTV should be on our street and police patrols on in an evening.”
Kristopher Murphy, 30, of Wellington Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty at Blackburn Magistrates Court on Friday, October 5, to a burglary at J&C McCormack.
He was given a 12-month community order, fined £100 and ordered to pay £100 compensation.
A 47-year-old man from Accrington arrested in connection with the burglaries at J&C McCormack and The Nail and Beauty Studio has been bailed to October 28. and busi-