A GANG of burglars broke into a Chester bar and stole around £1,000, bottles of spirits and a stack of pork belly.
The five-strong group smashed through the rear door at The Suburbs on Charles Street in Hoole at around 3am on Sunday (October 27).
A CCTV still from Sunday's break-in.
Owner Kingdom Thenga told the Standard today that they appeared to be a well-organised and co-ordinated team and were in and out in 10 to 15 minutes.
They broke into the cellar and managed to steal the safe as well as cash from tills and staff tips.
The entire incident was caught on CCTV and Mr Thenga is hopeful someone may recognise the culprits - especially one with a distinctive tattoo on his hand.
One man had a distinctive tattoo on his hand that was caught on camera.
“I’m smiling and staying positive for the staff,” Mr Thenga told this newspaper. “They don’t need to see me moping about. Plus if you don’t laugh you’ll cry!
“It is tough though. It feels like a total invasion of privacy and it’s not the first time.”
The Suburbs has been burgled on three occasions since it first opened its doors in 2013, he said.
The Suburbs, on Charles Street, Hoole, has been burgled three times in six years.
Mr Thenga said ideally he would put spikes on the rear wall to deter thieves from clambering over but this was forbidden.
“It’s come at a bad time for us but we’ll be ok,” he said. “We made sure we were still open by 12.30 yesterday and everyone had their Sunday lunch!”
He thanked the local community for its support following the break-in.
Kingdom Thenga, owner of The Suburbs.
“The positive thing about this is the humbling support from local people and businesses,” Mr Thenga said. “We’ve had so many messages. It’s like kryptonite being taken out of your body, we’re so grateful.”
And he had a message for the thieves too.
“They won’t deter us!” Mr Thenga said. “They won’t stop us from being a major part of this community.”
CCTV stills from the break-in.
A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “At 6.38am on Sunday 27 October police received a report of a burglary having taken place at a shop on Charles Street in Hoole.
“The offence is believed to have occurred at 3am involving a group of males who broke into the store and stole money and alcohol.
“Enquiries remain ongoing and anyone with any information is asked to contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting IML 549549.”
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