Safe raiders sought after butcher shops break-ins
POLICE are hunting raiders who have carried out a series of break-ins at butchers’ shops in Paignton and Brixham.
In the past 12 months safes containing several thousand pounds in cash, and carcasses of meat from the chiller, have been taken from three shops.
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In the latest incident Paul Kenyon, who runs Palace Premier Meats in Paignton, arrived at work on Christmas Eve to find his iron safe had been dragged out of the shop.
Inside the safe was at least £1,000 in cash, gift vouchers from local clubs and his children’s bank savings book.
The incident follows raids at two Lloyd Maunder outlets in Paignton and Brixham, in which meat and safes were stolen and similar amounts lost.
Police are linking the crimes and appealing for information.
Mr Kenyon says a number of people would have been needed to carry out the raid.
He said: “Five or six people would not have been able to lift the safe because it was an old iron one.
“We were broken into two months ago and they tried but failed to take the safe. This time it looks like they came back with something to put it on because you can see the wheel marks.
“I think they used a crowbar to get in the door.
“The problem was that it happened on Christmas Eve and we had no float for the till so we had no change for anybody.”
The raid is thought to have taken place between 3am and 4am.
On Saturday, December 3, the same gang is believed to have targeted the Lloyd Maunder branch in Victoria Street.
General manager David Carter said he believed an organised gang is targeting butchers.
He said: “The Brixham shop has been raided in the past year and the Paignton shop twice in the past few months.
“Whoever is doing it has the right equipment. after the first one we put bars across the door, but they got in by digging out the bricks in the wall around it.
“Even though the safe was bolted to the floor they still had the equipment to take it away.”
The Paignton shop has now been raided twice, once in October and once in December. the shop in Fore Street, Brixham was also broken into 12 months ago.
Each time the safe, containing more than a £1,000 and gift stamps, was removed.
The raiders also took more than 100lbs of meat each time.
Aprons were also taken.
A police spokesman confirmed detectives were linking the burglaries.
“We are investigating a series of offences involving a specialised method of entry.”
Anyone with information should call 101 quoting reference FP-11-3976.
