Thieves swipe charity box in break-in at butcher's shop

A HUGE rock was thrown through the front door of Scotts of Saddleworth

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THIEVES broke into a butchers in Greenfield in an act of vandalism.

Raiders smashed through a window pane at bakers and butchers Scotts of Saddleworth, in Chew Valley Road.

Staff were left "shocked" after a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) charity box was stolen as well as money from the shop tills.

Around £1,000 worth of damage was caused by the raid in the early hours of Monday morning.

An investigation has been launched by Greater Manchester Police who were called to the incident at 4.35am.

Baker and confectioner Howard Greenwood, front of house, said: "When our baker arrived to deliver, he was told there had been a break-in.

"It is a rock door, so they couldn't get it open.

"They had thrown a big boulder through a pane of glass to get in.

"Fortunately they didn't do any other damage.

"It is a bit of a shock.

"It feels strange to start with but the saving grace was that they had not damaged anything.

"They could easily have broken something just out of spite.

"When Pure hairdressers around the corner was broken into earlier this year, they smashed mirrors and cut cables on the phones."

Neighbours heard the shop alarm sounding at around 3am and alerted the police about the raid.

Around £100 was stolen from both donations to the RNLI fund and float money in the tills but most damage was caused to the door's window where thieves gained entrance.

Butcher Tim Scott, who began a joint venture with Mr Greenwood two years ago, said: "I refuse to put shutters up because it makes the whole area look horrible.

"There are two establishments with shutters but that is enough.

"I'm going to get CCTV installed which will help other businesses and act as a deterrent."

A GMP spokeswoman said: "Anyone with information should contact police on 101."