DESPICABLE’ thieves who broke into a mosque and stole a safe containing £3,000 in cash have been slammed for carrying out an ‘attack on the community’.
CCTV footage shows the moment two balaclava clad thieves raided Madina Mosque, Oak Street, Blackburn, in the early hours of this morning.
Around the same time thieves broke into the Waheed’s Buffet and Banqueting Hall, Randal Street, Blackburn, and stole 40kg of meat from he fridge and freezer, £300 cash and a charity box.
No arrests have been made in connection to either burglary and police are appealing for witnesses.
The raids have been described as ‘unacceptable’ and calls for mosque security to be stepped up.
A mosque spokesperson said: “They broke in through the fire exit and made their way to where the safe is kept. Two people came in and one is seen outside.
“At first they have trouble moving the safe but eventually they manage to steal it.
“This is the first time the mosque has been targeted in this way. There is a lot of damage to the fire exit and these will need replacing.
“There was around £3000 cash inside the safe which are donations made by worshippers and helps with the upkeep of the building.”
Cllr Shaukat Hussain, who represents the Bastwell ward on Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “This is disappointing and unexpected. It is disgraceful. I would ask anybody with information to contact the authorities.”
Shear Brow ward councillor Hussain Akhtar, who attends the mosque, said: “
Lancashire’s Council of Mosques chairman Abdul Hamid Qureshi said: “It is a sad thing that mosques are being targeted in this way. There have been quite a few break-ins at mosques throughout Lancashire. It is very worrying.
“It is especially surprising and disappointing because all the mosques in the county have CCTV cameras. Our instructions to the individual mosques is to not leave any cash in the building. We will be speaking to the police to say what other security measures can be put in place.”
Police said the mosque raid happened between midnight and 3am. Between the same time thieves also targeted the Waheed’s Buffet and Banqueting Hall. As well as taking the meat, thieves also escaped with the Indian restaurants’ CCTV system.
Owner Abdul Toheed said: “The robbery took place some time last night and they gained entry by breaking through the fire door.
“They managed to snap a chain that was holding the fire doors together too. This is locked at night for extra security.
“They then ransacked the building. After ripping out the CCTV they stole more than 40kg of meat and even cake. I can’t understand why they would want to steal the food.
“They must have transported the food out by using one of our trollies.
“The restaurant was left in a right state. Just replacing the fire doors is going to cost us hundreds of pounds.”
Police could not say whether the incidents are being linked.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting ED1806099 for the mosque and ED1806119.
By Shuiab Khan and Aban Quaynor
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