Ormskirk businessman releases CCTV after his garage was burgled

Jun 28 2012 by Tom Duffy, Skelmersdale Advertiser

A HELPLESS dad watched CCTV footage on his phone which captured the moment a five-strong gang raided his Ormskirk business.

Matthew Fielding-Link was forced to watch the real-time video on his mobile which showed the men cutting their way through the exterior steel shutters of his garage and then walking away with four motorbikes.

The dad of three could not leave his Ormskirk home because his wife was out and his three children were asleep upstairs.

When Matthew realised his wife was minutes away, he raced around to Total Moto to find his business had been burgled.

The CCTV footage showed five men arriving in a dark coloured van outside the garage on New Court Way at around 10.20pm on the night of June 18.

The gang then set about cutting their way through the steel shutters with heavy tools.

This triggered the alarm, and the gang drove off, only to return minutes later and steal the motorbikes. They pushed them toward a waiting van.

Matthew said that the thieves stole a 2010 KTM 450; a 2010 KTM SX85; a 2008 KTM SX65 and 2006 Honda CRF 250.

Matthew said: “My alarm system is connected to my phone. I was able to watch the CCTV on my phone, which showed the gang smashing their way in.

“I was helpless. My children were asleep upstairs so I could not leave them.

“When my wife said she was just minutes away I raced around, and missed the gang by about three minutes.

“My customers have been really understanding about the stolen property.

“My main emotion is one of frustration.

“In my view you have to work hard to buy toys, although some people refuse to do so.

“The gang caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to my shop, and a huge amount of inconvenience.

“I have only been in this unit for three weeks, so it is not the best of starts.

“Although my alarm and CCTV worked, I will be improving security even further.”

Lancashire Constabulary said that five offenders approached the business and forced the front door open with a crowbar, setting off the alarm. They then stole four motorbikes.

Police arrested five Liverpool men in Ormskirk town centre, and they are set to appear before Ormskirk magistrates on July 3.