THE owners of a Blackburn takeaway have said they like they are ‘under siege’ after being targeted by crooks five times in seven months.

A burglar was captured on CCTV brandishing a crowbar when he broke into Funky Fried Chicken in Whalley New Road at around 5am on Wednesday morning.

Other businesses in the road said they had also been the victims of theft and criminal damage.

But police said they did not believe the street was being ‘particularly targeted’ by criminals.

Noor and Hasina Ganchi, who run the takeaway with the help of their four daughters, said the thief had bent open bars protecting an upstairs window, forced his way in and taken around £300 from their till, a Cancer Research charity box and items including a 40-inch television.

Mr Ganchi, 53, said: We’ve got CCTV, we’ve got shutters at the back, shutters at the front and bars on the windows.

We feel like we’re under siege.

“We’re just a family business trying to make a living.”

Mrs Ganchi, 41, added: “I feel like saying let’s sell up and go. The police aren’t doing enough to protect us, even though we’ve given them a lot of information and CCTV footage.”

Mr Ganchi said his restaurant was first targeted when a burglar stole £300 worth of tools in September.

He said £1,200 worth of steel heating equipment was taken from his back yard in October, cooking oil in December and cooking oil again earlier this month.

Romeo Husein, of Royal Salon barbershop, said his business had also been hit.

He said: “My window has been smashed three or four times, my car has been targeted, and people keep getting on my roof from the back, nicking lead, stealing things from my shed and taking things from my garden.

“We need three large gates at each end of the alley behind us to stop people coming through.”

Little Harwood Councillor Pat McFall said she would visit the businesses to see if she could help with applications for alley gates.

Sgt Jon Cisco said police had stepped up patrols in the area and were deploying mobile CCTV cameras.

He said: “I don’t think this street in particular has been targeted but there has been a minor spate of damage offences.

“I think these people are opportunists and some of the criminal damage is maybe drink related.

“All lines of inquiry that are passed to us are thoroughly checked out and we are not complacent.

“I would like to appeal to the public to help us identify this offender.”

If you recognise the man or would like to report an incident call police on 101.