Ludlow shops targeted by thieves with ladders
More businesses in Ludlow town centre have been targeted by thieves using ladders to gain access through upstairs windows, police have revealed.
Jewellery and cash were taken from Emporos gift shop and cafe in the Bull Ring during a break-in. Two men were spotted carrying a ladder through the town during the early hours before abandoning it on the town's Galdeford car park near to the Co-operative store. A man has also been arrested in connection with the theft of gardening equipment and power tools from a storage container belonging to Ludlow College.
It comes after several town centre businesses were targeted across 48 hours in July. The most serious raid involved a safe being wrenched off the wall at Broad Bean delicatessen in Broad Street after a ladder was put through a skylight in the shop – and then left at the scene.
Police have urged businesses to secure high up windows, skylights and entrances.
Sergeant Adrian Woolley, of West Mercia Police's safer neighbourhood team for Ludlow, said the break-in at Emporos was discovered on Monday and added nine-carat gold jewellery and cash was taken.
He said: "They entered by the window up above the premises. The burglary wasn't discovered until opening time, but at about 4am two males were seen with a ladder in Parkway to the rear.
"They were then then seen running back on to Parkway and abandoned the ladder in the Co-operative store car park area.
"We suspect that this ladder was used in the burglary at Emporos."
He said the ladder was about four metres tall and aluminium. Both that ladder and a distinctive set of wooden ladders with markings left at Broad Bean on July 5 were thought to be stolen.
Sgt Woolley said: "Police would like to trace the owners and anyone who has seen the ladders being carried into town.
"They have been used to access rooftop or high level windows to enter buildings."
He said town centre premises were being advised to increase security and perhaps install cameras and alarms on possible high up or hidden entry points.
Other break-ins and attempted break-ins in recent months have happened at Bakers restaurant and cafe in Tower Street, the Parkway restaurant off Corve Street, and Nock Deighton estate agents and Lantern Lighting and Interiors, both in Bull Ring.
Two men had also been caught on CCTV near a container belonging to Ludlow College that was broken into on July 27, Sgt Woolley said. One man has now been arrested in connection with the theft of Stihl gardening equipment.
Sgt Woolley said: "We're also appealing for anybody who might know where this gardening equipment is being passed or sold on to get in touch."
Investigations are continuing, he said.
Anyone with information connected with any of the burglaries can contact PCSO Lucy Morris at Ludlow Police Station by calling 101.
