Police are hunting burglars who broke into a popular garden centre ? after it was targeted for the second time in the space of a few months.
Cash was stolen from the tills after Garners Garden Centre in Silverdale was targeted late at night.
Now the business has released CCTV images to The Sentinel after uploading the picture to Facebook following the break-in at around 11.30pm on Sunday.?Officers are also reviewing the images as part of their investigation.
Customers today spoke of their shock after hearing about the incident.?Geoffrey Matthews, from Longton, has been visiting the Cemetery Road centre for years.?The 65-year-old said: “I love gardening and I always get my plants from here. They are lovely friendly people.?Break-ins are happening everywhere just lately. Nowhere is safe, no matter how secure.?I’m not surprised because the garden centre is a prime target. It’s just a shame. Security must cost a fortune and the cameras don’t seem to deter them.
“Sometimes it’s amazing how stupid criminals can be. The only thing the business can do is step up security but that’s if they can afford it.”
Margaret Barlow, aged 80, from the Westlands, said: “I am very shocked. I think everybody is.?I come to the garden centre quite a lot because it’s got everything I need. I’d have thought it would be difficult to break into.”
CCTV appeal after Silverdale garden centre broken into for the second time in a few months.
Barbara Burndrett, aged 88, from May Bank, added: “It is awful. I feel very sorry for them. I don’t know how anybody could get in.?You think that it’s pretty quiet here but then you read about things like this in the newspapers and realise these things do happen.”
According to the owners, the store was also targeted only a few months ago.?A Garners Garden Centre spokesman said: “We would like to thank the Facebook community for helping the word spread, to catch the people who have done this.”
Police are now appealing for witnesses to come forward.?A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “We received a report of the incident at about 11.30pm on Sunday night. Entry was forced and cash was taken from the tills.?We are examining the CCTV evidence and are working through it systematically. Inquiries are ongoing.”
