Belfast businesses are grappling with the aftermath of a series of break-ins, leading to significant financial losses and growing unease among owners. The incidents, occurring on early Saturday morning, have disrupted trade and forced business closures for investigations.
Gareth McKinstry, owner of Simply Fish & Chip, described the impact of a break-in that occurred around 2:00 AM BST on Saturday. "Saturday was Pride day and it was meant to be one of our busiest days of the year and we lost all of our morning trade because we couldn't open the shop until the police had finished with their investigation," McKinstry stated. He highlighted the immediate need for repairs to his shop's window ahead of the upcoming Fleadh festival, emphasizing that the damage was an unwelcome and costly setback.
"It's not what we needed and it's not what anybody in Belfast needs, but it seems to be becoming a more common thing happening at the moment," McKinstry added.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that enquiries are ongoing into the recent incidents. A spokesperson appealed to the public for any information, including CCTV, dash-cam, or other footage that might assist the investigation. Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious or has relevant information to contact them.
Last week, another business owner, who runs a café, warned that the situation was reaching a "tipping point" after his establishment was also targeted. The series of break-ins has fueled concerns among local business communities about a potential increase in criminal activity affecting their livelihoods.