COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Another Coventry nursery has been broken into with burglars taking money staff and youngsters had raised to buy a new climbing frame.



The cruel gang - believed to be targeting nurseries in the north of the city - broke into the Circle of Friends Day Nursery in Lady Lane, Longford, last Monday night.

They caused thousands of pounds of damage and forced the nursery to close for two days - as well as stealing cameras and cash. It’s the sixth nursery in the city to be broken into since January.

Police have vowed to do everything in their power to catch the burglars and have increased patrols in the areas affected.

Louise Rainsley, the Longford nursery’s owner, said: “It was carnage when we came in.

“They wrecked our CCTV cameras, broke doors and clambered over the children’s furniture damaging most of it. It’s just totally unnecessary - just mindless vandalism for the sake of it.

“They tipped a cutlery drawer on the floor and destroyed a sewing machine. What’s the point in that?”

The biggest blow for staff and youngsters is the theft of money they were raising to buy a climbing frame.

It had taken them nearly two years to raise the cash – hosting cake sales and selling items on eBay.

“Boys love to climb,” Louise added. “It’s important for their development and motor skills, but all our play houses are on ground level.

“We’ve been doing all we can to raise money to buy a climbing frame, then this happens. I think it’s shaken up some of the staff. It’s not a nice thought to think that someone has done this.

“Even though the outside is floodlit and is surrounded by buildings it’s still unnerving.”

The spate of nursery break-ins started on January 14 when burglars broke into Flutterbies Family Centre in Hen Lane Holbrooks.

Tommies Children’s Centre, in Parkville Highway, Holbrooks, was targeted on February 11, before Flutterbies Children’s Centre, also in Hen Lane, was hit on March 11.

Tommies Children’s Centre has since been broken into on March 12 and again on Wednesday.

The Circle of Friends Day Nursery - which has around 80 children on its books - was broken into between 9pm on Monday and 5am on Tuesday.

Insp Westley Martin, from Coventry Central police station, said: “We are aware of a series of burglaries at nursery premises since January.

“We completely understand how upsetting this has been for nursery staff and parents. Since the incidents, neighbourhood officers have been visiting the nurseries and will continue to work very closely with them.

“This will include a review of all CCTV footage and any forensic evidence that may be available. Our officers have increased patrols in the area to offer additional reassurance. Our message to those responsible is clear – we will use every power at our disposal to catch you.”

If you have any information call Coventry Police on 101.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of carrying out five burglaries at nurseries in Coventry.

The 28-year-old was taken into custody and questioned by detectives. He was later released on bail pending further enquiries.

One of the conditions of his bail is that he is not allowed to go near three children’s centres in Holbrooks.

He was arrested on April 9 on suspicion of carrying out the burglaries at three locations between January and March. The first break-in happened at Flutterbies Family Centre in Hen Lane, on January 14.

Tommies Children’s Centre in Parkville Highway, was the next to be broken into on February 11 before Flutterbies Children’s Centre, also in Hen Lane, was burgled on March 11.

The next day Tommies Children’s Centre was broken into again before being burgled for the third time on March 26.

All three nurseries are owned by Tommies Childcare Ltd.

Company boss Caroline Fooks said: “The people who suffer the most are our children. We’ve had to close nurseries and throw away toys and soft furnishings because the sites have been so badly vandalised.

“Children’s computers and a PlayStation have been taken, alongside company lap-tops, wide-screen TVs, printers and mobile phones used for emergencies.

“Parents work hard to pay their fees, yet there are people in our community who will buy these stolen items.”

Police are continuing to investigate the burglaries and anyone with information should call Coventry Police on 101. If you want to give evidence anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.