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25 burglaries in one month: Willenhall shops targeted in spate of thefts

Shopkeepers are on high alert in Willenhall after a series of break-ins over the past few weeks.

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Business owners say they have been told by police that there have been 25 burglaries already this month.

Some now claim they are scared to be alone in their shop and others say they will move if the trouble continues.

Andy Newell, who owns family-run photography studio Blu Photography said he has been targeted twice by the thieves, who have stolen around £5,000 worth of equipment including MacBooks and cameras.

Blu Photography has had £5,000 worth of goods taken

He said: "I am absolutely sick of this and something needs to be done.

"We are a small business, like a lot of others in the town and we can't afford to lose valuable equipment, this is our livelihood.

"At the moment it feels like all of our money is going on repairing damage caused by these thieves or trying to get new equipment so we can continue working.

"I haven't been in the town too long and the people here are lovely, we really do like it here but if this carries on I will have to leave.

"We have been told by police that there have been 25 break-ins since the start of the month and that is extremely worrying.

"I am coming in every morning worried about opening the front door because I don't know what I am going to find."

This Cancer Research shop was forced to temporarily close

Other shops targeted include Bet Fred, a Cancer Research charity shop which has had to temporarily close, shoe shop Blunts, a craft store and Scissors Hairdressers.

Helen Kempson, manager at Blunts, said: "They have taken a till and a charity box from us but they have been targeting everywhere.

"It is as though they are taking whatever they can get their hands on.

"There are always going to be break-ins in a town centre but I haven't known anything this frequent in Willenhall."

Blunts Shoes in Market Place has had a till and a charity box stolen

Nicola Washbrook, owner of Little Angels Button and Craft Supplies, said the thieves had taken 'pretty much everything' from her.

She said: "They broke in through my front door, so I have had to spend money repairing that. Once they were inside they took pretty much everything.

"I had a big collection of Yankee Candles which are gone, they would have taken them because they are easy to sell on.

Little Angels Buttons and Craft Supplies shop

"I have had to get new stock in using my own money. This is only a small shop so things like this have a massive impact.

"I am concerned about being here on my own at the moment, knowing that someone could come in at any time."

Shop owners who haven't been hit yet are fearing the worst, according to Roger Dell, who runs Bronze Bay Tanning and Beauty.

He said: "Touch wood nothing has happened with me yet but everyone is worried.

"These people don't care, they are just hitting wherever they can and taking whatever they want. It comes down to a lack of police presence, in my opinion. There isn't a live station in Willenhall anymore and people think they can get away with this. Willenhall can become a bit of a ghost town in the evenings which doesn't help the situation, but there are a lot of businesses here who need support.

"There aren't bobbies on the beat in the town and I think we need that to change."

Willenhall councillor Sean Coughlan said the situation needed to be looked into by police and Walsall Council.

He said: "This is a big issue for the town and I will be looking to speak to West Midlands Police and the council about it.

"We need a CCTV upgrade because burglaries happen in the town and when we try and track down who is culpable we hit a wall.

"I have been called out by shopkeepers over recent weeks after they have been broken into and have spoken with traders at a meeting about the situation. We will work together to try and improve security in the town centre."

Police are investigating the break-ins.

  • Officers confirmed a Walsall man has appeared before Walsall and Aldridge magistrates accused of a series of crimes in Willenhall in April and May.

  • The man is charged with 11 counts of burglary of shops in Willenhall, two counts of theft and two drug offences.

  • Following his court appearance he was remanded in custody to reappear before the crown court on a date that has yet to be fixed.

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