Cafe broken into three times in three weeks

A coffee shop manager has said she is "disheartened and disappointed" at the police response to a series of burglaries at her city centre premises.

Ambber Williamson said she and her staff had found the front door of Cafe Blanc, in Derby, smashed in three times in three weeks, with cash, a tips jar and a mobile phone stolen.

However, she told the BBC police had not visited the venue and she felt "completely let down" by the response.

Derbyshire Police said crime scene investigators and officers did attend the scene but its temporary chief constable said he was sorry if the force "didn’t deliver the service that we should have done".

The independent cafe in St James's Street opened in January and on Williamson's first day of annual leave - 10 September - a staff member called to say the locks had been broken.

The small amount of cash in the till had been taken, which Williamson’s colleague said she reported to the police.

"She was told at that stage that the police don't attend commercial burglaries unless there's a significant amount of loss," said Williamson.

The door was repaired, locks were replaced and extra bolts were added, only for a similar break-in to happen two days later.

This time the till drawer, mobile phone and tips jar were taken.

Again, Williamson said her staff reported the incident to police but were given the same reply.

"The team were very frightened, not sure what to do with regards to preventing any further break-ins," said Williamson.

Derbyshire Police told the BBC the 12 September incident was reported, and on that same call, the force was informed about the previous burglary.

It said crime scene investigators attended the scene but there were no forensic opportunities and an officer also carried out CCTV inquiries.

Cafe Blanc paid for more repairs and began installing CCTV cameras but they were not active when a third burglary took place on 24 September.

Williamson reported this crime herself, having pulled up to the shop at 05:15 BST to find the door "completely smashed".

"I was completely unsure whether there was somebody actually in the building or not, but even then, I was told that there would just be a police report sent over," she said.

"[The police call handler] said if I get inside and find there's been a significant loss then to give them a call back."

Derbyshire Police said crime scene investigators went to the scene at 10:15 and officers arrived at midday.

The force added the investigation into the break-ins was live and ongoing.

"I'm very upset for the team, they don't know what to expect when they're opening up themselves," said Williamson.

"What should a business manager like myself do in that situation?"

Temporary Chief Constable Simon Blatchley said: "Apologies if we didn't deliver the service that we should have done, clearly.

"My expectation, particularly if there is a report of a burglary in progress, is that we would attend immediately,

"If there was a burglary overnight, and there's no crime in action, that may be a delayed attendance,

"That is the what we try to aim for. I'm not going to sit here and say we can do this every time."

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