Terminus newsagent fears further break-ins
VETERAN newspaper stall owner John Brouard fears his business will be attacked again, and said he is scared to leave it at night, after his kiosk was broken into for the second time in a year.
Between 11pm on Sunday and 12.30am yesterday, damage was caused to the boards which protect the shop front at the kiosk at the bus terminus, resulting in one being completely broken off.
Mr Brouard said he was worried about its future.
‘I really don’t leave the shop much any more, even to go home, the risk is just too great to my livelihood,’ he said.
‘I only left for just over an hour the other night and look what happened.’
The kiosk has been targeted before and Mr Brouard felt more should done to protect it.
‘Four times I have been broken into overall and twice it has been attempted in the last year,’ he said.
‘Luckily I fitted new bolts after the last time, otherwise they would have been in easily.
‘I’ve lost at least two grand from the most recent break-ins and no doubt I would have been down again had they got in.
‘I am owed compensation from the previous occasions, but rarely do I actually receive the money promised in court.’
Last month two defendants, who were under 18 when they appeared in court, were convicted of trespassing at the kiosk and stealing items.
One was sentenced to 120 hours’ community service, while the other was sentenced to two months’ youth detention, which was suspended for 18 months. Both were ordered to pay £200 compensation to the victim.
Mr Brouard has his suspicions about who is involved in the most recent incident and his frustrations are growing.
‘Kids are always hanging about down around here,’ he said.
‘I said to the police last time why can’t you ban them from the terminus?
‘They just said these kids have rights to use the terminus,’ he said.
‘That is fair enough if you’re getting a bus but then you should be there no more than half an hour, these kids are hanging about for five to six hours.’
Mr Brouard is fearful of another attack on his premises.
‘Those who hang around down here know the routine,’ he said.
‘They are here for so long they see when I go, when I come back.
‘They post someone down either end of the terminus with a mobile so if I come back, or if the police come down, they can see us from a mile off and stop what they’re doing.’
More effective ways to deal with the problem are evident, said Mr Brouard.
‘Like I said the kids just stop what they’re doing when they see me or police approaching, so I think they could use plain-clothes officers.
‘The officers could then move in without being noticed as easily and catch them in action.
‘Also there is a camera looking right at the front of our shop and this is what they used to get a conviction last time round.
‘But it took me to remind the police on multiple occasions that the camera was there.
‘As soon as the video evidence was shown to those involved they changed their pleas.’
n Anyone with information about the attempted break-in at the weekend should contact the police on 725111 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
