Crowbar vandals trash Bacup Hub

1:00pm Friday 4th January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Chris Adams

Crowbar vandals trash Bacup Hub Crowbar vandals trash Bacup Hub

VANDALS armed with a crowbar broke into a community centre and caused around £50,000 damage.

The gang of four struck at the Bacup Hub, in Bacup, at around 10.45pm on Wednesday.

Shocked staff turned up for work yesterday to discover every room had been ransacked by the intruders.

Events and classes scheduled to take place at the venue have been cancelled until at least the end of January.

Owner Catherine Murphy said she could not understand why her premises were targeted. She said: “They have completely trashed the place.

“They smashed the alarm, pulled the wires through and cut them off, and used a crowbar to gain access through the badminton courts.

“Every possible opening has been ransacked and destroyed. They have left a trail of damage that was totally unnecessary. It will cost between £40,000 and £50,000 to resecure, and repair, the building.”

Dozens of bottles of spirits were taken from behind the bar, tills and slot machines were raided, and an accountancy office was also targeted.

CCTV footage has been passed to police showing four males forcing their way into the Burnley Road building.

Catherine said she was unable to put an exact figure on how much cash had been taken, but that she would have to ‘re-evaluate everything’, including the proposed move of the town’s job centre to the site.

Basketball, tai chi, car boot sales, and blood donor session are among the regular events at the Hub.

Greensclough councillor Jimmy Eaton said he was disgusted. He added: “People who do this sort of thing don’t realise the implications this has on the community. It’s not just theft, it has a knock-on effect on the children, and elderly people, who use this great facility every day.

“I hope Catherine can get back on her feet because the Hub was due to be knocked down before she stepped in and gave it a go.”

A police spokesperson said they were investigating.

Comments (8)

1:45pm Fri 4 Jan 13

InterpolNYC says...

What is it with these people? They must be so pathetic.
What is it with these people? They must be so pathetic. InterpolNYC

3:34pm Fri 4 Jan 13

pdb951 says...

When these idiots are caught. Throw the book at them!!!!!!
None of this soft stuff
When these idiots are caught. Throw the book at them!!!!!! None of this soft stuff pdb951

5:06pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Black Car Guy. says...

pdb951 wrote:
When these idiots are caught. Throw the book at them!!!!!!
None of this soft stuff
You can,t do that. It is their human right to smash stuff up and get away scott free.
[quote][p][bold]pdb951[/bold] wrote: When these idiots are caught. Throw the book at them!!!!!! None of this soft stuff[/p][/quote]You can,t do that. It is their human right to smash stuff up and get away scott free. Black Car Guy.

8:03pm Fri 4 Jan 13

Pottsie says...

Do these thoughtless idiots realise that a valuable blood bank will have to be cancelled at the Hub this month. Lets hope for their sake one of their relatives isnt in need of an urgent blood transfusion in the near future.
Do these thoughtless idiots realise that a valuable blood bank will have to be cancelled at the Hub this month. Lets hope for their sake one of their relatives isnt in need of an urgent blood transfusion in the near future. Pottsie

8:02am Sat 5 Jan 13

Bacupbloke says...

There will be a fuss for five minutes and then it will be forgotten.
Remember when local thugs smashed up a nativity crib a few years ago? Shock horror headlines and angry councillors saying these thugs will be caught? Result: naff all.
Remember the riots in 2010 when our beloved council leader promised tough action but there proved to be no video in the CCTV cameras. Result: sweet Fanny Adams!
Our local councillors and local police inspectors know how to talk a complete load of sloblock but do naff all to improve living standards.
There will be a fuss for five minutes and then it will be forgotten. Remember when local thugs smashed up a nativity crib a few years ago? Shock horror headlines and angry councillors saying these thugs will be caught? Result: naff all. Remember the riots in 2010 when our beloved council leader promised tough action but there proved to be no video in the CCTV cameras. Result: sweet Fanny Adams! Our local councillors and local police inspectors know how to talk a complete load of sloblock but do naff all to improve living standards. Bacupbloke

4:48pm Sat 5 Jan 13

happycyclist says...

Vermin.
Vermin. happycyclist

12:39am Sun 6 Jan 13

soup123 says...

Pottsie wrote:
Do these thoughtless idiots realise that a valuable blood bank will have to be cancelled at the Hub this month. Lets hope for their sake one of their relatives isnt in need of an urgent blood transfusion in the near future.
Lets just hope that it's one of the thoughtless idiots that did this that need a blood transfusion.
[quote][p][bold]Pottsie[/bold] wrote: Do these thoughtless idiots realise that a valuable blood bank will have to be cancelled at the Hub this month. Lets hope for their sake one of their relatives isnt in need of an urgent blood transfusion in the near future.[/p][/quote]Lets just hope that it's one of the thoughtless idiots that did this that need a blood transfusion. soup123

5:05pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Better Bacup says...

New 'care' homes for 'chaotic' teens dumped in Bacup: increase in mindless vandalism. Co-incidence?
New 'care' homes for 'chaotic' teens dumped in Bacup: increase in mindless vandalism. Co-incidence? Better Bacup

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