A BAR manager said he was being ‘kept awake at night’ after having his pub broken into five times in the last eight months.

A thief has been taking cash from Number 39 in Bridge Street, Darwen, by emptying charity boxes, raiding the jukebox and taking money from event ticket sales.

Over time, bar manager and licensee Ben Garvin said around £500 had been taken with about £1,200 worth of damage caused to the pub.

In the early hours of Sunday, the thief came armed with an angle grinder and attempted to get into the safe.

Mr Garvin said the latest incident has left him and his staff feeling unsafe.

He said: “I think it’s the same person every time that is doing this.

“We are a small business and we cannot afford high-tech security systems so we could do without this.

“Of course after all this we are going to have to look at increasing security in the bar but we don’t want to have to do it because we don’t want to get to the stage where we’ve got chains and bars everywhere.

“We all need to work together to track him down because this has been keeping me up at night and my staff that have to close up are starting to feel very on edge.”

The thief is described as around 5ft 9in and was wearing Nike trainers, a Superdry grey or light coloured hoodie and is a smoker.

He has been accessing the pub via the fire exit upstairs and through a window in the cellar, which has now been filled with bricks.

During the break-ins he has taken money from boxes for the Royal British Legion and East Lancashire Hospice.

It comes as three other places in the town have had their Poppy Appeal money stolen; these include Pembroke Court, Michelle’s hair salon and Darwen Deli.

Gary Ward, who organises music events at Number 39, said: “We have to stop this person, somebody must know him. It is devastating for the staff and customers of the bar.”

Steve Potter, Poppy Appeal co-ordinator in Darwen, said: “It’s a real kick in the teeth for the charities when money is taken like this.”

A police spokesman said: “We have had this incident reported to us and enquiries are ongoing.”