Burglars strike again in Shrewsbury as cafe supporting homeless is latest victim
Burglars smashed their way into a Shrewsbury cafe that supports the homeless, stealing cash and damaging doors in a trail of destruction.
Palmer's of Shrewsbury is at least the fifth town centre cafe to be targeted by late-night raiders in recent weeks. Jewellers, a hairdressers, a restaurant and a grocery store have also been burgled.
The not-for-profit cafe, based at the Baptist church in Claremont Street, supports rough sleepers in the local community. Building manager Jude James and cafe manager Lynne Breakell were preserving the scene, ready for a police forensic team to collect evidence.
"It happened just after 11pm," said Jude. "There is substantial damage to the doors and the safe was broken into."
Lynne added: "We've only just started having customers back inside. After the year we've had, and just as we're getting up and running again, it's a bit of a kick in the teeth."
Three people could be seen carrying out the break-in on the CCTV footage, all in hoods, gloves and masks.
Shrewsbury crime spree:
On Saturday night, CSONS in Milk Street was broken into, just as staff had finished cleaning, painting and preparing to reopen.
A week last Sunday, Darwin's Sandwich Evolution in Shoplatch had its door smashed in and money stolen from the till.
Also last week, Pomona Grocery in Castle Street was targeted
Another burglary was attempted at Goldsmiths of Shrewsbury, just weeks after £20,000 of watches were stolen. Arrests were made following both incidents at Goldsmiths.
A spate of burglaries took place in April over the Easter Bank Holiday and the following weekend. Among the victims were Strands hairdressers, The Allotment, Stop. Cafe and Nomad Coffee Co.
