York independent businesses have been left feeling “vulnerable” after a spate of break-ins over recent days.
After our report earlier this week of two break-ins on Shambles, two businesses were targeted on Wednesday night on Bishopthorpe Road.
Rae and Rae, a family-owned independent opticians, had their shop window smashed and items stolen during the early hours of the morning.
Because of the mess caused, the store had to remain closed for the day.
YorkMix spoke to the manager, Georgia. She said: “It’s just a real pain because we can’t open, there’s glass everywhere. It seems like just small independent businesses being targeted.”
Georgia was woken up at 3.40am this morning, to a notification that the shops alarm was sounding.
Police arrived at the scene at around 4am, and with crime scene investigators gathering evidence.
Burglars also tried their luck directly across the road that same night.
They attempted to bash the door in at independent coffee house Stanley and Ramona.
Fortunately, they didn’t get in and the cafe was left with slight damage to their front door.
However, owner Emma Coward is still shaken from the incident. She said: “It’s more the effect it has on individuals, because, as a small business owner, you now feel quite vulnerable.
“It’s me and my mum that have the business, there’s no high value items here whatsoever, we’re even thinking of going cashless now to kind of deter people.”
Emma had recently purchased a CCTV camera for the cafe because of the recent break-ins, and has been thinking of other ways to deter potential intruders.
“We’ll put the CCTV up, and I’ve got a little note saying no cash left on premises overnight.
“But honestly, I think it must just be opportunists, because we’re the smallest place on the street, I’d say, there’s nothing here that could be of interest to them.”
Other businesses that have been raided include Brancusi, on Micklegate, on Tuesday morning.
The manager, Dan, told YorkMix that the incident unfortunately fell on the eatery’s first anniversary, “it wasn’t a great way to celebrate our first anniversary, but we’re back on our feet.”
Their front door window was smashed and their till drawer stolen.
Just a few doors down from Brancusi is hairdressers Studio56.
The salon also experienced two break-ins in September, just a week apart from each other.
Sophie told YorkMix that they initially believed it was a one-off drunken incident when their bottom front door window was kicked through. This took place in the early hours of Tuesday 17 September.
However, on Wednesday 25 September, a brick was put through the second window. Someone gained entry and took the till drawer which had cash inside.
They were unnerved following the incident, Sophie said, “it’s more the thought that we don’t know who’s been in here.”
Last night, North Yorkshire Police revealed that two men aged 36 and 33 were arrested yesterday following burglaries reporting overnight in Bishopthorpe Road and a restaurant on Blossom Street.
They have also made arrests after similar break-ins elsewhere in York, with three charged.
Acting Inspector Matthew Kilburn of York Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “I hope local business owners are reassured by the latest action that we have taken to bring those responsible to justice.”