Businesses unite to fight crime spree

DAMAGE at Jo Ferns’ salon, Lydgate

A CRIME spree in Saddleworth has led to a salon owner taking action to make the area safer for all.

Jo Ferns, who owns a salon in Oldham Road, Lydgate, is urging local business people to meet next week following a break in at her premises on Saturday.

Jo (46) said there have been nearly a dozen incidents in the area recently and she has now hired a private security firm to monitor the salon.

Jo said the break-in had left her “livid”, since she had been warned by police of other burglaries and attempted burglaries between Lees and Uppermill.

Jo had the alarm checked on Saturday to make sure it was working, and it went off at 10pm - but it wasn’t until the next morning that Jo heard the news from a nearby business owner. The front door was smashed and the salon’s reception area needs to be repaired. Burglars stole the till, a tablet computer and a laptop, as well as breaking into the storeroom upstairs.

Jo said: “How has this been allowed to happen when we were more or less warned a few times in the week?” she said.

Muse wine bar and restaurant in High Street, Uppermill, was a target on January 18. Owner Rob Norbury said a window had been forced but nothing taken.

He said: “We don’t leave anything on the premises. It didn’t fit in with what has happened with the other places. There wasn’t the same reckless abandonment. It was done with a lot of care. It made me think it’s a different set of individuals.”

Java Bar Espresso, also in High Street, was also a target, as was nearby Dinnerstone Cafe, where the raiders failed to get through the back door.

Jo has organised a meeting for next week to get together local business owners, councillors and the police to tackle the problem: “I feel we need to have some kind of security presence to put criminals off coming to the area,” Jo added. “People are struggling with businesses anyway. We’re not allowed to put shutters on because it’s a conservation area.”

The meeting is at the White Hart Inn, Lydgate, on Monday at 6pm. Information: Jo on 01457-820348.