Burglar in court after bank-holiday break-in spree

A BURGLAR responsible for a bank holiday break-in has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Luke ScullyLuke Scully
Luke Scully

Luke Scully (36), of Elliott Court, Rotherham, stole £1,290 worth of shoes and handbags from Muse Shoes in Wickersley  at 2.55am on Sunday, August 27.

Police said two businesses had been targeted by thieves over the August Bank Holiday weekend and another the following weekend in what were being treated as unconnected incidents.

Scully admitted burglary at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court last Thursday and was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for 12 months.

The thief, who has an extensive record for dishonesty, was ordered to complete a drug rehabilitation programme and pay £300 compensation.

The court heard he damaged the window of the long-standing Bawtry Road shoe shop and also stole cash.

Maltby hairdresser’s Vima Hair, on Yarwell Drive, was burgled between 10pm on Friday, August 25, and 12.40am the following day.

Electrical items were stolen and extensive damage was caused to the door, police said, which had cost the salon £1,500 in total.

Salon manager, Vikki Mackenzie, said that in her 29 years’ of business she had never had any problems with burglary.

Ms Mackenzie, who was on holiday during the burglary, praised her staff for rallying round and opening the salon just hours after the attack, despite the damage caused.

Vikki said: “There was no electrical equipment to work with so staff had to rally round and bring whatever they had at home in.”

An eye-witness had seen youths kicking the shop’s door in and crawling into the shop, she added, but was not hopeful police would catch the offenders.

“It’s just stupid kids, it’s easy money for them, but it doesn’t put me off,” she said. “It was business as usual and I’m proud of my staff - Paula Oldham, Rosie Hodgkinson and Janine Cooper - who opened up and were not deterred.”

Police said they had been reviewing CCTV in relation to the incident but asked anyone with information to call 101 quoting incident number 43 of August 26.

The third incident was an attempted burglary at the Garden Room Cafe, in High Street, Braithwell, at around 3am on Sunday, September 3.

Police said damage had been caused to the door of the restaurant but the offenders had not managed to break in.

CCTV was also being reviewed in this case, a spokeswoman said, appealing for any witnesses to get in touch on 101 quoting incident number 175 of September 3.

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