Thieves cause £1,500 worth of damage and spraypaint CCTV in Coventry shop 'raid'

[dutchman]

CCTV captured a group of balaclava-clad men trying to break into VV Phones on Radford Road



Thieves caused more than £1,500 worth of damage when they tried to break into a longstanding shop in Coventry. VV Phones in Radford was targeted on June 10.

CCTV seen by CoventryLive shows a group of balaclava-clad men scoping out the building on Radford Road. It is believed they had been parked on Valley Road.

Owner of VV Phones, Ajay Bedi said the four-strong group initially tried to access the building from the front entrance but failed. It was at this point that they decided to gain entry through a back door, causing an alarm to sound at around 2am.

Ajay, 55, said the balaclava-clad group spraypainted a CCTV camera and fled before returning at around 3.30am. He said this time they managed to get into the building and raid the storeroom, leaving a number of phone cases scattered on the ground.

He said: “It is kind of annoying. Obviously, they are after phones and stuff, but they could not get anything, so just damage and then stress for no reason.”

Thankfully, the group failed to get into the shop itself as they were stopped by a large metal door, which Ajay hailed as 'brilliant.' He has, however, had to fork out more than £1,500 in repair costs, which he said has caused 'hassle and headache.'

Police confirmed that they are investigating the break-in and are trawling CCTV. Anyone with information has been urged to get in touch on 101 or by using WMP Live Chat.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “We are investigating a break-in at a business on Radford Road in Coventry, at just after 3.30am on Monday, June 10.

“We are reviewing CCTV as part of our ongoing enquiries. Anyone with information can contact us via Live Chat on our website or by calling 101 and quoting 20/566558/24.”