Newsagents reopens after ram-raid

RS News and Off-licence in Wolverhampton Street, Willenhall, closed its doors in October, after thieves stole 4,000 cigarettes and caused a considerable amount of damage.

Owner Rajendra Patel has faced a patient wait to see the business that both he and his wife, Yamina, have built up over the past 31 years open its doors again to customers.

They were joined by Walsall councillor Diane Coughlan to celebrate the re-opening of the shop.

He said: “Last year my wife, Yamina, and I celebrated 30 years of running the shop which has always been a big part of the community. Thankfully we are now back and fully open.

"Everybody has said they are glad that we are open again as it will save the effort of many people travelling elsewhere for newspapers, grocery and off-licence items.

“We are glad to be back to serve the local community and want everyone to know that we have made every effort to ensure they will be safe coming into the shop because of sanitizer, insistence on masks and self-distancing.”

The shop was one of six targeted by ram-raiders in the Black Country on October 21 last year.

Mr Patel said: “We have had to live off our savings while the insurance and repairs were carried out.

“It took longer than expected to sort things out but we are glad to be back. Councillor Coughlan has been very helpful in getting the bollards outside the shop replaced and we are delighted she could join us to celebrate.”