Leasowe garden centre burgled twice in 24 hours leaving the business thousands of pounds out of pocket

Jan 11 2012 by Linda Foo Guest, Wallasey News

A GARDEN centre in Leasowe has been burgled twice over the weekend, leaving it thousands of pounds out of pocket.

The shocked owner of Manor Garden Centre, Steve Mole, is devastated after thieves struck twice within 24 hours.

They stole four chainsaws (made by Stihl and etched with MTS), a stone cutter, leaf blower and a seven-and-a-half tonne tipper truck.

The first break-in happened between 9.40pm and 11.10pm, then thieves returned the following night (Sunday) between 7.30pm to 9.40pm, and robbed the Ford Iveco Eurocargo truck, registration V493DNB.

The tools and truck are also desperately needed to operate Steve’s tree surgery business, Manor Tree Services.

He told the News: “I’m really shocked – twice in two nights. I came down on Sunday at 7.30pm to check on the place and everything was quiet. They burst through the locked steel gates with the truck. Leasowe Road is busy so somebody must have seen them. The concrete posts are smashed and the steel gate was lying on the ground. The alarm was going off for an hour-and-a-half – but no-one batted an eyelid.

“I’ve lost thousands of pounds in tools and the truck, plus repairs to the shed and gates.

“We are only a small business and can’t afford our tools being taken away. It is not a great way to start the new year.”

Neighbourhood Inspector Peter Kolokotroni said: "We have stepped up patrols in the area. Business crimes are very impactive on those involved and are not victimless crimes.

"I would also like to remind people if they buy stolen goods they could be liable to criminal prosecution."

Anyone with information should call Merseyside Police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.