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'We lost all of our morning trade' - businesses fearful after more break-ins

A café owner warned the situation was at a "tipping point" after his premises were targeted.

Anchor News
- 3 min read
'We lost all of our morning trade' - businesses fearful after more break-ins

Juko cafe on Gloucester Street was targeted by burglars at about 02:30 BST on Monday and the incident was captured on CCTV.

Shane McGann, a director of Juko, said security at the café was being reviewed after what happened.

He said: "I hope nothing like this happens in Belfast again. Unfortunately, there's been a spate of burglaries across Belfast city centre over the last few weeks.

"Hopefully we're the last. Thankfully we've had a great police response.

"But I think our biggest fear is that we're sitting on the cusp of the Fleadh, and we know that Belfast is about to be on the world stage next week.

"I suppose things like this just don't shed Belfast in the light that we're trying to show the city."

Two men, aged 32 and 38, who were arrested in relation to the Juko cafe burglary have been released on bail to allow for further police enquiries.

Police are continuing to investigate recent incidents and said the crimes have a "detrimental impact".

"It impacts on the livelihoods of those who work there," Supt Gavin Kirkpatrick said.

"The current climate for businesses operating is extremely challenging, without individuals causing further distress to our business community by their actions."

He added that police presence throughout the city has increased.

"As Belfast prepares to welcome visitors and world class performers as part of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann from Sunday, our officers will be playing an important role in ensuring the smooth running of the week-long event by ensuring the safety of those attending and socialising in the city."

He emphasised that Belfast remains a "vibrant place to live, work and socialise".

PSNI statistics show a falling trend in recorded crime in Northern Ireland, external since 1998, including a significant reduction in the number of reported burglaries.

This trend is mirrored in the most recent theft statistics for the PSNI's Belfast district.

There were 320 burglaries at business and community premises in Belfast in 2024/25, compared to 210 in the last financial year - a drop of 34%.

However, the number of reported robberies in the city increased over the same period rose

Robbery is recorded separately from theft as this type of crime involves using some kind of force or putting a victim in fear.

There were 232 robberies reported in Belfast in 2024/35 and 338 last year - a rise of 45%.

Shoplifting is a much more prevalent crime than robbery or burglary in Belfast and there were 3,127 incidents reported in 2024/25.

This rose to 3,343 during the last financial year, a rise of almost 7%.

In Northern Ireland as a whole, burglary reports in 2024/25 reached their lowest level in a quarter of a century and represented just 3% of all recorded crime.

Overall, robbery reports were also at their lowest level since 1998.