Grateful Rotherham restaurant owner's meal offer to police for help after break-ins

THE owner of a restaurant burgled three times in seven weeks was so impressed with the police response that he has invited officers for a meal.
Staff at E'LupoStaff at E'Lupo
Staff at E'Lupo

E’Lupo’s boss David Lister made the gesture after the Italian diner, on Effingham Street, was hit three times in seven weeks.

And he said he would have still given them top marks even if they had not caught the culprit, who will be sentenced next week.

Grateful Mr Lister said: “I don’t know if they’ll take us up on the offer but I think we’ve definitely got the best-protected restaurant in Rotherham. We got a much better service than you could expect from any force.

“We’ve had extra security systems put in now, but while we were waiting they would call six times a day to check we were all right.

“Uniformed officers visited during opening hours, plain clothes officers passed by on patrol during the night.”

Mr Lister said he was given direct contact details for officers to obtain any updates on the case — something the force has pledged to do more often to relieve pressure on 101.

“They kept us updated on everything from the arrest information to the forensics results.

“It was a really good example of the force working together as one. I work as a solicitor so I know the pressure they are under.

“They showed they were human. I think the difficulty they have some is the perception that they’re these alien-type beings.”

Chief Supt Una Jennings said officers’ communication had been regular and they had stayed with Mr Lister and wife Laura while they waited for CSI.

The Rotherham district commander added: “He talked about how he carved a life for himself and the burglary made him start to doubt if it was worth it but his confidence was renewed.

“He said he would have given us the same top rating even before we caught the offender, just because we had taken the time to treat him properly.”

Daniel Howson (28), of no fixed abode, has admitted burglary and is due to be sentenced today.