The Tribune

A BURGLAR got away with a soda and some leftover food after breaking in to Summer Breeze Pool Service on Winchester Street last night.

Clad in a red shirt and pants, the man, who is believed to be in his late 20s or early 30s was caught on the store’s security cameras attempting to steal a car battery from one of the business’ vehicles.

Having been the repeated victims of petty crime, company CEO Jeff Lowe said they are now in the habit of putting in preventative measures to frustrate would-be criminals who regularly target his business.

These efforts paid off last night, as the truck’s battery, which was bolted down, proved too difficult for the burglar to remove.

Not deterred, the burglar is seen on the video surveillance moving to other buildings in the compound searching for items to steal, before fixing his sights on the store’s main office.

Breaking through the window, Mr Lowe said the culprit moved into the office and attempted to steal an air compressor by shoving it through a hole that he forced in the exterior wall.

During this commotion however, a neighbour was reportedly alerted to what was happening, causing the culprit to flee the scene “relatively empty handled”.

Mr Lowe said the culprit took a soda and some leftover chicken from the office fridge.

Surveying the store yesterday morning, some four hours after having alerted the police – who had yet to arrive at the scene – Mr Lowe said it is times like these when “If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry”.

Along with his service manager Raymond Ferguson, Mr Lowe took The Tribune on a tour of the business, highlighting the many security improvements his business has had to install after being hit by theft after theft – from barbed wire fencing, to reinforced steel running along the length of the exterior walls.

Mr Lowe said criminals today make it virtually impossible for businesses to survive.