A man has been charged in connection with a number of burglaries and attempted burglaries at businesses in Southport and Birkdale.
On Friday 30 October, Merseyside Police received several reports of attempted break-ins at cafés and shops across the area.
It was reported that £125 in cash and a knife were stolen from a butcher’s stall at Southport Market, £30 was stolen from a café on Wesley Street in Southport, and a café on Liverpool Road in Birkdale was broken into with items stolen. A further attempted burglary was also reported at another café on Liverpool Road.
Joshua Johnson, 30, of West Street in Southport, has been charged with three counts of burglary other than a dwelling and one count of attempted burglary other than a dwelling with intent to steal.
He appeared at Wirral Adult Remand Court on Monday 2 November and was remanded into custody. He is due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing on Monday 30 November.
The charges follow previous reports of burglaries and attempted burglaries at a number of businesses, including a post office, café and market stall in Southport, as well as premises in St Helens, during which cash and a Canada Goose jacket were reported stolen.
On Tuesday 24 October Johnson was charged with three counts of burglary other than a dwelling – theft, and three counts of attempted burglary other than a dwelling with intent to steal.
Detective Chief Inspector Louise Hooley said: “This type of crime has a significant impact on businesses, including the inconvenience and cost of repairing the damage caused by a break-in.
“Small independent businesses are vital to the high street and local economy, and burglaries such as these can have a significant impact on business owners and their livelihoods.
“We are committed to supporting local businesses and taking action against those responsible for this type of crime.”
If you have information about these incidents, you can contact Merseyside Police via social media on X or Facebook @MerPolCC.
You can also report information via our website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or by calling 101.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously