Burglars smash their way into two Bell Green salons...

Burglars trashed two Coventry salons in one night before trying to smash their way into two other businesses.



On Tuesday morning the owners of the salons in Riley Square, Bell Green, arrived to find them in a state of chaos.

At Ashlea’s Beautique, close to Roseberry Avenue, witnesses reported seeing three men force a security shutter before smashing a window and getting inside.

Two doors down burglars took a different approach, destroying a steel door and forcing their way in to Hair By Abi, damaging electrics in the shop in the process. Both salons have only opened recently.

When burglars tried to force their way into nearby Scruples Hair Design - which has been in the square for 40 years - they came up against a steel door and eventually gave up.

They also tried and failed to break into the Aldi supermarket in Roseberry Avenue.

Now traders in the square are calling on Coventry City Council to do more to improve security.

Gavin Lloyd, chairman of Bell Green traders association, said the situation in Riley Square was “pretty bad”.

“We’ve had a dozen break ins since I’ve been here,” he said. “It doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better either. The local bobbies are a real help, but they can’t physically stop burglars from breaking into shops.

“The area is covered by CCTV which is great - if they’re all working properly. I suspect that’s not the case. We’ve got constant graffiti and constant burglary and something needs to be done.”

Ashlea Whiteside, aged 21, only opened Ashlea’s Beautique three months ago.

And up to now the beautician, who lives in Radford ,has been enjoying owning her own salon but she admits that the break-in on Monday night left her ready to give it all up.

“I was absolutely gutted,” she said. “When I opened the shutters I saw my stuff scattered all over the place. There was nail varnish all over the floor and walls and acetone on the sofas.

“They’d even nicked half a sunbed - I’ve no idea why. I really did feel like throwing in the towel, I don’t want this happening all the time.

“But if I go then they win. I don’t want there to be even more shutters going up around Riley Square.”

Ashlea and her family are hard at work repairing the damage and she plans to re-open next Tuesday.

Abi Fabiyi, who opened Hair by Abi a fortnight ago, is less optimistic about her chances.

She is considering shutting up shop after thieves forced a steel-covered door at the back of the shop and stole a TV.

“It’s crazy,” Abi said. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do, because I can’t put up with this sort of thing.”

Elsewhere in Riley Square numerous businesses have been targeted by burglars but many have gown wise to the threat and have installed security systems and steel doors.

One business owner joked that her shop was “like Fort Knox” because she was so concerned about crime in the area.

The Myton Hospice shop has been broken into twice in six weeks although generous staff from Enderby firm Secure One Limited have since fitted an alarm to try and put a stop to the break-ins.

Sgt Phil Capey, of Coventry Police, said: “We are determined to catch the criminals and help the shops stop these problems and we’re working closely with the shops to advise them about improving security to stop the burglars.

“Our specialist forensic scene investigators are looking through the evidence to help us identify the offenders, and we have stepped up patrols in the area to deter and identify any potential offenders.’’

A spokesman for Coventry City Council added: “Coventry City Council is working hard to improve Riley Square and in the last year we have secured eight new lettings in the shopping area meaning there are only three units that are empty.

“The recent crime spree is equally frustrating for us as it undermines this hard work which is why we are committed to working with the police to solve this current problem.”

Struggling traders calling for Riley Square to be revamped to attract shoppers



Traders are calling on the council to do more to spruce up Riley Square after a spate of break-ins left some on the brink of shutting up shop.

Last week the Telegraph revealed that burglars were targeting the Bell Green shopping complex – with two salons being trashed in the same nights.

Now shop owners are calling on more to be done to make the area more secure and attract shoppers in the process.

They say dirty streets, damaged buildings and uneven pavements are putting off customers – while some units don’t have disabled access.

Jay Mohammed, who owns J’s takeaway, moved in a year ago.

“We’re barely scraping by,” he said. “I’m having to put my own money in.

“I knew at the start it would be a struggle but I didn’t realise it would be this bad.

“Money needs to be invested, the area needs to be properly marketed. At the moment the only time I have any contact with the council is if I’m late paying my rates.”

Kam Gill, from Avi’s Bakery, said she has felt unsafe in her cafe after she witnessed a break-in and was verbally abused.

“I’m sure it will happen again,” she added. “The police have been really lovely and genuinely helpful, but it’s obvious they haven’t got the resources.

“The other units need to be rented out to a better variety of shops too.”

Last week burglars trashed Hair by Abi and nearby Ashlea’s Beautique and tried to break into three other businesses.

Gavin Lloyd, chairman of Bell Green traders association, said security was an issue, but added that investment was desperately needed in other areas of Riley Square too.

“The buildings are falling apart,” he said. “Each trader has their own issue. For me the biggest is street cleaning.

“More needs to be done. The bins were taken away a little while ago to be repaired and haven’t returned.

“We held a remembrance service last year and veterans literally had to plough through dog mess on their march, it was awful.”

A spokesman for Coventry City Council said: “We are always looking to support tenants and improve the shopping areas we own but the reality is that we can only do this within the financial restraints we face as a local authority.

“An important part of what we can do is filling empty shops to attract more people to Riley Square and in the last year we have secured eight new lettings, meaning that only three units are empty.

“We have also identified £19,000 of funding to create nine disabled ramps to some of the shops in Riley Square.

“The contract to carry out this work is currently out to tender and we are keen to progress this work as soon as possible.”