A SHOP owner has said work on alleyways in Oswestry has left his business a sitting duck after he was the victim of a recent burglary.
Time Invaders, in Cross Street, plus Casuals of Oswestry in Market Gate, were targeted by burglars in recent days. Carl Doidge, 36, and of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the charges at Kidderminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Kate Diamond and Glenn Purvis, who are married, say the incident, on Monday, February 13, was assisted by improvement works for the alleyway behind them, which they believe has left them, and other Cross Street businesses, exposed to potential burglars.
“The thing that makes so stressful is that we take students from Derwen College and from schools for work experience, to help them build up their confidence,” she said.
“We do lots of things for the community.
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“It’s the further costs of having to replace the door he broke in through on top of all our other rising costs.
“The council has put in lights at the back of the shop as part of improving the alleyways and it just has lit up the area for burglars and for young people wrecking stuff.
“They’re putting up rails around the drains which will act as steps – what can we do about that?
“We’re going to have to fork out for new security at the back of the shop.
“The alley work isn’t helping and tourists won’t want to walk up something that’s full of bins, people urinating or staff from the shops out smoking.
“You never know what you’re going to expect when you turn up to work.”
The couple said they have recovered the stolen items with help from West Mercia Police officers, but insisted that stealing from the property did not make sense.
They added: “A few people in the area are doing it – other businesses say it too.
“The police don’t have the resources to carry out surveillance but they did get us the things back, which does help.
“But it was stupid because no one keeps cash on site overnight anymore and he wouldn’t be able to sell what they took – it’s laughable.
“And now we have to pay out to replace a door.”
Doidge appeared at Kidderminster Crown Court and will face the potential of both a custodial or community sentence when he appears at Telford Magistrates Court on Tuesday, March 14.
He will be tagged for curfew between 8pm and 8am.
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