‘Kick in the teeth’ - Pop Recs broken into for a third time
The owners of a city centre venue aiming to boost Sunderland’s cultural offering say it’s a ‘real kick in the teeth’ to be broken into just weeks before their opening.
In the past few years, Pop Recs has made great strides in bringing top music names to the heart of Sunderland, whilst also helping to foster future talent.
Its third incarnation is just weeks away from opening after completely transforming once dilapidated buildings at the far end of High Street West into a multi-purpose culture hub.
But for the third time in a year, the venue has been damaged by would-be thieves.
Last night, October 13, someone has attempted to break into the site, smashing a front door.
"Because of internal shutters, they got away with nothing, but left £1,200 worth of damage.
Michael McKnight, who founded Pop Recs with fellow members of Frankie & the Heartstrings, said: “We are in this area because we are trying to improve and regenerate it, so to have this happen is a real kick in the teeth.
"They actually got away with nothing.
"But to have a locksmith come out to make the door temporarily safe it’s £200.
"Then, because it’s a listed building, a new front door will cost £1,000.
"So that’s £1,200 for nothing.
"We aren’t trading at the minute so we have no money coming in, but we have an insane amount of outgoings while we get ready to open.
"So to have this cost on top of that is really disheartening.”
Previously, thieves have stolen a coffee machine and children’s music equipment from Pop Recs.
Michael said: “This has happened to other businesses in the area and on one occasion all they got was £12 petty cash.
"They are causing all this damage for £12.”
Earlier this month, we reported on how Pop Recs’ community work is carrying on in memory of cofounder Dave Harper.
As well as bringing a host of acts to the city to perform in its stage area, in the former original Binns building, Pop Recs will host community groups and provide training opportunities for young people.
The hub has teamed up with the hugely-successful
Midnight Pizza Crü venture which will run the coffee shop side of the business when it opens next month.
Pop Recs itself will open on October 22 with a soft launch art event which will be invite-only.
"The coffee shop is due to open in November.
A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: “At about 9am today (Thursday) police received a report of a burglary at a shop on High Street West, Sunderland.
“It is believed the incident happened between 6pm on Wednesday, October 13 and 8.55am on Thursday, October 14, where someone has forced the front door in an attempt to gain entry to the store.
"Enquiries are ongoing and anyone who may have witnessed anything or has any information is asked to contact police via the Tell Us Something page.
"Or contact 101 quoting reference 0180 of the 14/10/2021.”