Venue reopens after burglary

POLICE are hunting burglars who broke into a popular town centre restaurant in the middle of the night.

The Old Mill Smokehouse, in

Haywood Street, Leek, was forced to close last week following the earlymorning raid.

Thieves had smashed their way in before stealing cash from one of the tills.

It is believed they were then spooked by an alarm and fled the scene.

Now officers are trawling through CCTV as they launch an investigation into the incident.

An Old Mill Smokehouse spokesman confirmed the restaurant, which only opened late last year, reopened last Thursday.

They said: “Unfortunately we have had a break in at the Mill and therefore we have had to shut for the day. Security system has lots of pictures of the culprit.”

Police are now appealing for witnesses to come forward.

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “We received a call at 9.10am yesterday to report an overnight burglary at the Old Mill Smokehouse pub and restaurant.

“Unknown offenders have forced entry to the premises and stolen cash from one of the tills. An alarm was triggered during the burglary causing the suspects to flee.

“Officers have attended the scene and CCTV is currently being reviewed.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting incident 112 of January 2.