MORE must be done to combat crime in the island, said one local shop owner yesterday. Barry Dodd, of Soundtrack in Church Square, was left picking up the pieces again after another raid on his shop.
Overnight on Wednesday/yesterday, the large side window was smashed and £300-worth of stock stolen. Mr Dodd (pictured) was alerted by the owner of a neighbouring business at 8am yesterday.
He said that such crime was a constant problem which needed to be addressed.
‘The trouble is, police are being taken off the beat so the CCTV cameras need to be in place and working or we are left completely unprotected,’ he said.
Seven cordless home telephones were grabbed from the display window – but not the chargers needed to make them work.
‘Whoever did this wasn’t exactly clever. All the bits that make them work are still in the boxes in the shop,’ said Mr Dodd.
He said these could be bought on the internet with no questions asked, but if the thieves tried to buy them in bulk in the island, that would raise suspicion.
‘The only way they will get caught is if they try and do something stupid like sell the phones in the pub,’ he said.
Mr Dodd, who has been trading for more than 40 years, said there had been at least half a dozen similar attacks on his shop since 2000.
‘We are trying to run a business and it is difficult enough in this economic climate without this going on as well.
‘Why should we put up with it?,’ he asked.
‘I’m pretty hacked off.’
* There was also a break-in at the Dragon Chinese restaurant, South Side, St Sampson’s, early yesterday. Anyone with information about either incident should contact either Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or police on 725111.
Article posted on 12th September, 2008 - 2.29pm
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