New Burnley bar owner 'saddened' after ruthless thieves target business twice in four months

Keira Crossley, who runs William's Lounge Bar in Yorke Street with her husband Neil, said the pair felt sad and demoralised following the break-in which happened on Sunday evening.

However, they say they are focusing on the positives and have vowed to come back stronger once the coronavirus pandemic passes.

The couple only opened the bar in December but have been targeted twice in that time with offenders breaking in and making off with stock on both occasions.

"We were actually burgled in mid-January just after we had opened," said Keira. "On this occasion, they managed to get into the bar before making off with some cash and bottles.

"Because we are obviously closed right now, we are going down once a day to check on the bar. We can see the CCTV from home though and on Sunday, Neil was looking at it when he said to me, 'I think we've been robbed again'.

Kiera said the offenders broke into the bar at around 8pm, stealing a quantity of stock, before returning later in the evening to take more.

"It looks like the same guy who did it the first time, breaking in the through the roof again," she said. "We think there may have been two of them. It's extremely disheartening. We have two businesses and we are unable to trade from either at the moment. We are adhering to the guidelines, making sure we are isolating with the kids; and then you see this happening. It's hard to take."

A number of other bars have reported similar incidents in the past few days, and Keira said it was a difficult enough for businesses at the minute without having to worry about buildings being broken into.

"This is what's bugging us the most. All the businesses in the town centre are vulnerable right now. There's no public on the streets, we can't be there, and there's no protection.

"We're not getting any income so we can't afford extra security. I've emailed the MP and we've spoken with the police. I'm not sure what can be done; maybe a bigger police presence in town. We're happy to talk to other business owners about working on some sort of solution.

"We don't know how long this is going to go on for, and we need to protect our businesses in the mean time."

Keira said business at the bar had been going well before the lockdown, and the couple could not wait to reopen.

"We bought the building as a renovation project really. We weren't going to open it as a bar originally, but as we started work on it we thought it could work as a small intimate venue.

"It has lived up to all expectations. There's a great vibe and we really feel like we've done something worthwhile.

"We can't wait to reopen. As soon as the lockdown announcement was made on the Friday, we came down at 6pm and closed the bar. We told the staff their health and safety was more important; the bar can wait.

"It is hard right now, but we are going to come back stronger."

Anybody with information on the break-in can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.