YOBS STRUCK AS FAMILY SLEPT
Owner scared yobs off after hammer attack
A SHOPKEEPER has been left £2,500 out of pocket – after yobs smashed his window with a hammer in the early hours of the morning.
Hasan Altundal, along with his wife and baby daughter, was sleeping in his flat above Corner Express in Leek when two men smashed the front window of the off-licence in an apparent bid to break-in.
The 28-year-old, who opened the business in the Staffordshire Moorlands town around three years ago, jumped out of bed and shouted at the the raiders – who fled the scene.
Now Hasan has shared CCTV footage of the incident – which took place on Monday, November 12 – and has urged anyone with information to get in touch.
He said: “It was 10 past two in the morning. We were sleeping upstairs and woke up to a banging noise.
“He was smashing the window with a hammer.
“I opened the window and shouted ‘what are you doing?’ and they just ran off.
“My wife and little girl were both scared. I called the police after about ten seconds.”
Police arrived at the scene 25 minutes later and, despite searching the area, could not trace the suspects.
Hasan has now paid £1,000 for a new window and £1,500 for a new shutter to prevent the shop, on the corner of Ball Haye Street and Rose Bank Street, being targeted again.
He added he had previously run a shop in Baddeley Green, and this was the first time something like this had happened since he opened his business in Leek.
Hasan said: “We decided to set up here because it is a small English town. It is very quiet. That is why we came here.
“Leek is a very nice town and now this has happened.”
A Staffordshire Police spokeswoman confirmed they were continuing to investigate.
She said: “We were called at 2.15am on Monday November 12, to a report of criminal damage at Corner Express on Rosebank Street in Leek.
“Two offenders approached the premises, and one used a hammer to smash the main window of the shop.
“They fled in the direction of Buxton Road, then towards the town centre. Inquiries are on-going.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 45 of November 12.
Officers are now viewing CCTV and making local enquiries in an effort to identify the two offenders. Anyone who witnessed the incident or saw anyone acting suspiciously in the local area at that time is asked to contact Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 45 of November 12.