Staff at a popular Newcastle coffee shop have shared their disappointment after a thief stole plant pots and benches from its much-loved yard.
Heaton Perk on Heaton Park Road said the intruder came in through the back gate at around 5.30am on Sunday, May 22 and made off with plants from the yard and wooden benches from the balcony of the flat upstairs.
The coffee shop, which has been open for 15 years, has shared CCTV images taken from around the time of the incident on their Facebook page and reported the theft to the police who have launched an investigation.
Now, manager Amy Hemmer is appealing for anyone with information to contact the police in the hope of returning the items which mean a lot to the staff and customers at the cafe.
Amy, 27, said: "It's such a shame. One of our staff members is a really keen and very talented gardener and has put in quite a lot of hours into [the yard].
"A lot of the stuff that was taken was planted here years ago and really nurtured during that time so it means a lot. It is such a lovely space that all of our customers love.
"It has been really important to us that the cafe is a safe space as it is such an integral part of the community. The owners know everyone and we get a lot of customers who have been coming here for years and years.
"The things themselves that were taken are small, but it is such a shame when a bunch of people work hard to make sure it is a safe and welcoming space, and then someone feels like they can come in and take from that.
"But things like this show how nice the community is, we have had so many people sharing the appeal and trying to help out."
Northumbria Police confirmed it is investigating the reported theft and asked anyone with information to contact the force.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “We are investigating a report of theft from Heaton Perk Coffee Shop on Heaton Park Road, Newcastle, in the early hours of Sunday (May 22). Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website quoting reference RAI220525045.”
READ NEXT:
