Cafe owner hit big by awnings thieves

TWO 11ft awnings have been stolen from the Pavilion Café in Chadderton Hall Park

THE cost of replacing a pair of metal awnings which were stolen from a popular café will be a 'big hit' on the company, the owner said.

A member of staff at the Pavilion Cafe in Chadderton Hall Park found two 11ft awnings made of metal and heavy canvas which cover a seating area were missing from one of the sides of the building. They will cost thousands to replace.

Owner Michael Cumiskey admitted that as they were packed away it would have been difficult for staff to notice them missing and believes the culprits must have come prepared with tools to unbolt them from the wall, leaving just metal brackets behind.

Customers

It is likely that there would have been more than one offender as the metal frame, combined with a thick canvas, would have needed at least two people to carry them away, he said.

The awnings will cost the cafe at least £3,000 to replace but also deprives customers of an outside seating area.

Other awnings on more visibly open areas of the building were not taken and measures to discourage thieves such as motion sensitive lighting are being introduced.

Michael said: "They aren't something that we use all the time when the weather is bad, which is why they were packaged away.

Heavy

"The last time we saw them was on Saturday morning, but they would have been up and they aren't very noticeable.

"They are a metal frame with a heavy canvas insert in them."

He said: "It would be quite a lengthy job to get them and they may have used a vehicle and it would have taken two people at least to carry them.

"They are valuable, the money to replace them is a big hit."

He added: "It was fantastic for the customers who want to eat outside because if the weather turned bad we could cover the tables and they could still enjoy being outside.

"But now we have lost an area of the decking that we can't use. It has just deprived us of a good seating area."

The theft has been reported to the police who are investigating.