Burglars steal iPads at Wednesbury break-in
A Black Country community hub has been broken into and iPads have been stolen.
Thieves broke door locks and smashed windows at South Staffs Water's Community Hub in Wednesbury in the early hours of this morning.
Police were called to the Union Street site at around 4am after the incident, where iPads used by customers were stolen.
The water utility company uses the hub as a way of engaging with customers, who can ask for advice or voice concerns in person.
The group have had to close the hub and cancel events at the centre while they repair the damage caused.
Rachael Merrell, head of household retail services at the hub, said: “The break-in at our community hub is terrible news, not just for us but for everyone in the local community who uses it.
"We have customers who visit the hub to get advice and support and we have a wide range of local organisations who come here to use the hub for their events.
"The events which were due to be held today, including those by Healthwatch and Accord Age Matters, have had to be cancelled and we will be closed today to carry out repairs, we hope to be back up and running on Monday.
“It’s terrible that anyone would do this to a community facility like the hub.
"Our community team will be at the Wednesbury carnival tomorrow, if anyone needs to see us in person and please follow our Facebook page for more updates.”
People can visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SouthStaffsWaterCommunityHub/.
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "Police are investigating after a number of businesses on Union Street in the Wednesbury area of Sandwell were broken into in the early hours of this morning.
"Enquiries continue and anyone with information is asked to contact us via live chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, call 101 anytime or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Quote log number 268 of July 12."
