TOWN centre landlords have been hit by a further spate of break-ins, prompting a police investigation.
The Courthouse, on Regent Street, Italian restaurant Bistro Romano’s and Jock’s Cavern, both on Shambles Street, were targeted by burglars sometime between Wednesday night and yesterday morning.
The latest break-ins have prompted calls for more CCTV and consequences for the culprits.
Erjon Meci, who is a chef at Bistro Romano, said the thieves had taken about £70 float money from the till.
He said the restaurant door had been smashed in and the till on the floor.
He said: “Nothing else was damaged, I think they were just after money.
“How dare someone do this? They must be desperate.
“They could have damaged the business completely. If we don’t do something about it, it might get worse in other places.”
He said someone had attempted to break in before and was given a crime number by police.
He added: “Hopefully they will be looking into this break-in.”
Matt Hodges, manager at Jock’s Cavern, said three men and a girl smashed a side window with a 16in crowbar.
He said: “We don’t leave anything in the till, not even the float - we’ve made that mistake twice before.
“We’ve caught them on camera, but weren’t even going to report it because nothing gets done. It happens everywhere, but the rate it’s happening in Barnsley is quite frankly a joke.
“We all know who they are, but nothing gets done. The only way it is going to stop is if they are locked up so they can’t be on the streets.”
Thieves also struck a cruel blow to the owners of new cocktail bar Alexander, on Shambles Street, which had been open for just two nights when £150 was stolen.
Maria Tuculiano, wife of owner Andrei, said the front door smashed in and two tills and a wallet missing.
She said: “There were three guys with masks and gloves and hoodies on. We’ve caught them on camera and the footage is with the police.
“We were really quite scared because we had only been open two days. Nobody wants that after two days.
“We were expecting them to have devastated the place and broken everything in the bar but there wasn’t any damage.
“Our neighbours have told us there are no cameras on this part of the street. Maybe the council or someone could look at putting more cameras in place, because it’s not really encouraging people to open new businesses if it is not safe.”
A spokesman from South Yorkshire Police said anyone with information about any of the break-ins should contact 101.
