Hooded thug causes £20k of damage and steals £4k of cigarettes from Wolverhampton family firm
A family-run business is counting the cost after a hooded raider caused £20,000 of damage and made off with £4,000 of cigarettes wrapped in a shower curtain.
Bosses at P & J Newton in Wood Lane, Bushbury, believe they were targeted by the same person for 'up to three weeks' before the burglary on September 14.
The wanted man even cut through an electric fence and then collected his swag in a shower curtain before making off towards Browning Crescent in Three Tuns.
Peter Newton, aged 59, who has run the business for more than 30 years said more companies like his are becoming victims because gangs are dealing in expensive cigarettes rather than drugs.
The retail boss said: "The alarm went off about 10.30pm and I came to the shop. There's a fence between our building and the railway track and it's electric at the top to stop people climbing over.
"Whoever broke in has cut the fence at the bottom. They have smashed the shutters and the doors to get inside the place.
"When we looked at the CCTV it looked like they had brought a shower curtain with them and put all the cigarettes in it and put it over their shoulder like a bag of swag and left. They took £4,000 worth in all and with the damage to the fence, shutters and door is about £20,000.
"It's devastating."
Mr Newton said he believes the person who struck at his company may have been a customer.
The store owner, from near Featherstone, added: "This person who has done it knew where all the cameras were. They kept their face hidden under their hood all the time so I would say they have been in the shop before. There were about three attempts in three weeks before they broke in to cut the fence near the railway track and we patched it up each time.
"Cigarettes seem to be in demand and I think the more people buy them on the black market the more businesses like ours will be targeted."
West Midlands Police confirmed P & J Newton was burgled between September 14 and September 15.
Spokesman Peter Edney said: "The shop was forced open and around £4,000 worth of cigarettes were taken.
"The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made. Officers are looking through CCTV and anyone with information is urged to call Wolverhampton Police on 101."
