UK COMPUTERS STOLEN Burglars raid Peterborough building firm twice - Peterborough Today:

Burglars raid Peterborough building firm twice

Published Date:
19 June 2008

By Ed O'Mara, Chief Reporter

BRAZEN burglars stole computers worth £6,000 from a building firm in Orton Goldhay – before returning less than two weeks later to plunder their replacements.

Thieves first raided MBM Building Services, in Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, by smashing a window, kicking down the front door and escaping with their haul loaded in a wheelie bin.

The company responded to the break-in by quickly tightening up security, but only three days after the stolen equipment was replaced, the office was ransacked again.

Managing director Peter Manley believes the same burglars are responsible for the two attacks.

He said: "They have been so bold and brazen about it. They obviously felt so confident after the first burglary they had no problem breaking in a second time, even though we had beefed up our security.

"We are just a small company employing local people and trying to make a go of a business, which is difficult enough at the moment.

"These guys clearly have no fear of getting caught to be as brazen as this. They just don't give a damn."

The first raid happened at about 2.30am on June 5, when the burglars smashed a window and clambered into the office in Lady Lodge Arts Centre, which is owned by Peterborough City Council.

After kicking down the front door, they loaded four desktop computers worth £6,000, a vacuum cleaner and a bottle of whisky into a wheelie bin and fled.

The company, which employs 11 people and has been based at the centre for six years, then stepped up security by screwing windows shut and padlocking doors.

But after the computers were replaced last Friday, two more were taken in the second burglary at about 9.30pm on Monday, prompting Mr Manley to consider relocating his business.

"This used to be a thriving community centre not so long ago, but nobody seems to looking after the maintenance, and it is going to rack and ruin," Mr Manley said.

"It sends out a message to people thinking about bringing their business here, and we will be considering moving out."

A Cambridgeshire police spokesperson said: "We can't confirm the two burglaries are linked, but the possibility is forming part of our investigation."

A Peterborough City Council spokesperson said: "Clearly the arts centre has seen better days and was not helped by a recent fire on the site.

"However, we are exploring our options for the future potential of the building, and will be consulting with all concerned."