Shopkeepers' anger at break-ins
WORRIED shopkeepers in Kingsholm fear drug addicts are behind a series of break-ins.
A number of businesses in the area have been targeted in recent weeks causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
Traders believe local drug addicts are behind the crime wave.
Cheryl Brown, who runs TJ's Cafe on the corner of Worcester Street and St Catherine Street, said she is devastated after the latest break-in on Wednesday night.
"I have been here three and a half years and I have never seen anything like it," she said.
"You see a lot of druggies around here but you don't take any notice usually.
"This time they have broken in, gone through the till and stolen all the stock from the fridge.
"Fixing the door alone will be about £1,500 which is a lot for a small business."
Cheryl said she believed the area was in decline.
"All the businesses look out for each other around here," she said. "It used to be nice but it has been getting worse over the last six months."
Chris Duberley runs the butchers in Alvin Street.
His business has been targeted three times in the past few months, the most recent on Tuesday night.
He said: "This time they got in and took the charity boxes. They couldn't get at the meat because we padlock the fridges. But they broke the electricity cable on one of them.
"It is the druggies. We've had it before. We now have one fridge off being fixed and in this hot weather it makes it very difficult for ordering in stock.
"We have been here 30 years and we don't bother anyone. We've now got to get our door fixed and all these things take time and money."
Gloucestershire police confirmed they were investigating the incidents.
A spokesman said: "We take all incidents of burglaries very seriously and are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area of the last few days to contact the police as soon as possible.
"We would also like to take this opportunity to reassure local residents that incidents of burglary have seen a 43.6% reduction in this Inspector Neighbourhood Area. We will continue to be proactive in preventing such crimes and bringing offenders to justice."
For more Kingsholm news log onto www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/kingsholm
13 Comments
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by Glawster girl, Kingsholm, Glaws
Sunday, July 05 2009, 9:18AM
“Let's face it, we all know where they live, Bridge House and the Dorchester Hotel. We have been burgled three times now handbag, bike and computer. One offender was actually caught on my neighbour's CCTV and despite repeated calls to the police no-one even went round to view it. She was never even charged. Until these landlords who rent to these scum are held accountable for their crimes nothing will happen - they are just coining in their benefit money. They just walk into the co-op most evenings and help themselves to whay they want so they wouldn't be too hard to catch. If someone gave me a few grand I would move away tomorrow.”
by S, Churchdown
Friday, July 03 2009, 5:13PM
“The druggies problem in Kingsholm is terrible. I know children who go out to play (at any time of day) and see drug addicts getting their fixes in public view. Disgusting! We need something done so that our children are not exposed to this! Sort it out!”
by Tom, Glos
Friday, July 03 2009, 1:42PM
“David i agree with you when you say they are tied up with paperwork but that is not their choice, because we live in a nanny state everything the police do has to be recorded, even as much as talking someone in the street. Im sure the police would prefer to get out and about and do the fun stuff rather than sit in the station filling out forms.”
by Fed up K'holm, Gloucester
Friday, July 03 2009, 1:37PM
“Fed up with druggies dealing in the alley ways in Kingsholm. The area needs regular patrols to keep the druggies off the street. K'holm has got a really bad drug problem at the moment.”
by Arfur Daily, Waterwells
Friday, July 03 2009, 1:11PM
“Are the police so thick to think that breakins are down nearly 50%, the figures show a decline because people do not bother reporting a crime know as it is a waste of time, not that crimes have gone down!!”