Spate of Morecambe safe burglaries ‘are linked’ say police

A safe-cracking gang is on the loose in Morecambe.Police believe there is a link between four burglaries in the local area where thieves targeted safes.Morecambe Town Hall, a Westgate betting shop, a Bolton-le-Sands chippy and a town centre clothes store have all suffered break-ins over the past 10 days.The total haul includes around £9,000 in cash and trophies awarded to prize winners at the annual Morecambe Carnival. Thousands of pounds worth of damage was also caused.Two men also brutally attacked a Betfred shop worker who refused to open a safe.{news/local/morecambe-carnival-trophies-stolen-1-7519228|Intruders broke into Morecambe Town Hall} overnight on Thursday and Friday.It is believed the gang cut open safes in the Marine Road building but found no cash.Instead, they knocked through doors, smashed windows, then made off with Morecambe Carnival cups from a display case in the foyer and antique silver pieces from upstairs.The town hall was closed on Friday while police combed the building for clues.Councillor Darren Clifford, chairman of Morecambe Town Council, said: “It’s disappointing. Who would rob a town hall?“We’re trying to get back to normal as quickly as possible. I want to pay tribute to the police, and staff who were here on Saturday cleaning the place up.”Police were then called to the Store 21 shop on Euston Road at around 7.15am on Friday.The front door had been forced open and the safe removed.Around £2,600 was taken and £900 damage caused.The {news/local/worker-hailed-as-hero-after-morecambe-betting-shop-attack-1-7514450|Betfred burglary} happened on Saturday, October 10 after two men walked into the Westgate Precinct shop just before 10pm.They pushed a staff member into a toilet cubicle then demanded to know where the safe was.The worker refused to tell them and tried to raise the alarm. “They repeatedly kicked and punched him to get him to open the safe,” said a relative of the man. “He wouldn’t open the safe and he fought back as much as
Morecambe Town Hall was targeted by burglars.Morecambe Town Hall was targeted by burglars.
Morecambe Town Hall was targeted by burglars.