RETAILERS are demanding police action to crackdown on brazen thieves breaking into shops by smashing through roofs to get inside to steal cash or goods.
There has been a string of break-ins over recent months on old Doncaster Road near the town centre, with offenders gaining access by ripping off roof tiles and kicking their way in. Similar incidents have been reported by pubs in the heart of the town centre.
One shop on Doncaster Road, which sells radio equipment, has been targeted twice since the new year. In the latest incident CCTV footage shows the culprit dropping in through the ceiling before taking a till containing just £5.
Other premises affected include a cafe, coffee shop, domestic appliance shop and a gas supplier.
Gemma Gains, who runs a bridal shop on Doncaster Road, spoke on behalf of concerned business owners, saying they are fed up and want action from police to sort out some of the issues putting people’s livelihoods - and safety - at risk.
“Within the last three months there have been six break-ins,” Gemma told the Chronicle, who fears her shop may be targeted next.
“They are getting in through the roofs and stealing the tills wanting quick fix money. They’re even taking charity boxes.
“They are going around in a loop and trying different shops every weekend.
“We really need help over this side of town.
“The police aren’t doing anything. We may as well call the Ghostbusters.”
Some of those who own businesses on the street held a meeting to discuss the problems.
They told the Chronicle that while it is important the public doesn’t feel the street is a ‘no go area’ for shopping, there are issues that need resolving. They all agreed more needed to be done by police to increase officers’ visibility.
Rebecca D’Arcy, who runs the Confetti Cone Company, said: “We need some police patrols up and down. If there were as many police as traffic wardens on the street it would be a lot safer.”
She said that while her building is very secure, she does lock her door when she is on her own. “To feel like you have to lock your door, well it’s a bit sad really,” she said.
Mick Townsend runs Domestic Appliance Service close the underpass entrance.
The business has been struck by burglars on several occasions and Mick said it has become so bad he has to chain up stock.
“I’ve been broken into where they’ve come in through the roof,” he told the Chronicle. “It’s the damage they cause more than anything. I used to have windows at the back of the shop with iron bars on and they were forced off to get in.”
Mick wants to see better lighting on the street and for police to include the area in night time patrols.
“it’s no good them coming down in the day time, that doesn’t make a difference because the shops are open and people are in. It’s on a night.
“What does get my back up is when you phone to report something and they come three days later and just give you a crime number. It’s showing no interest.”
One retailer at the meeting, who did not wish to be named, told the Chronicle the method of entry via the roof means the alarm may go off to alert police but when officers attend nothing looks untoward from the outside as the shop front shutters are undisturbed so they leave the scene.
Staff at a coffee shop also claimed they were told to ‘clear up and carry on’ because officers hadn’t been able to get evidence from a break-in at a shop next door after it had been broken into and it was unlikely they would find anything in the coffee shop.
Wedding shop owner Gemma thinks businesses are beginning to lose confidence in the police.
“I think what we need is some response back from the police for some reassurance about what has been happening in terms of the break-ins.”
She also wants to set up an action group for businesses on the road and organise a joint meeting with council and police officers to really their concerns.
She said: “The issue in the short term is the safety of the people on the street, that’s paramount for us.”
A detective chief inspector for police in Barnsley has ordered a review of all the crime cases on Doncaster Road.
DCI Delphine Waring, the force’s crime manager for the town, said each incident will be reviewed by her department and every business visited by an officer.
DCI Waring said it is disappointing that follow-up action from officers initially had not been to business owners’ satisfaction and she personally requested all those affected by crime to be revisited.
She told the Chronicle: “What’s happened in this case, which is unfortunate, is it appears that follow up work hasn’t been there. It’s disappointing.
“This is a specific task for the team - for businesses on Doncaster Road to be visited.
“Follow-up action is key. If we’ve not got staff going out there and being visible and seeing people and giving reassurance, members of the public are not interested in the meetings being held by us to identify the crime. They want to see people in person.”
DCI Waring said weekly monitoring meetings are held to identify emerging patterns of crime and that officers in neighbourhood teams are integral to that work. Visits to businesses on Doncaster Road will also coincide with the launch of a business crime prevention campaign being launched today.
