The Greggs bakery on campus was broken into and burgled on the evening of Thursday Week 3, causing the shop to close for two business days. According to Lancashire Police, the incident happened sometime between 7:45pm on Wednesday and 5:50am. The offender(s) seem to have gained access to the shop through a rear wooden door. A Lancaster Police Spokesperson told SCAN: “a hole was cut in wooden door by unknown means to gain access.”
Fortunately, no one was hurt, since the incident occurred outside opening hours. The spokesperson said: “The two tills were forced open but no money was inside.” However, “A safe was removed and taken.” Whether there was any money inside the safe, and how the offender(s) removed is undisclosed. “No further details about the safe unfortunately” the spokesperson told SCAN. Staff at Greggs have been instructed not to comment on the incident.
It remains unknown as to whether this crime was committed by someone from outside the University, or students of the University and as of yet, no eye-witnesses have come forward with any further information regarding the offender(s). Lancashire Police are still investigating and confirmed that there has been “No arrests at this stage, enquiries on-going.”
Things now seem to be running normally at Greggs and there have been no other reports of shop break-ins on campus. This appears to be a one-off, but nonetheless, Lancaster Police encouraged “Anyone with information about the incident should call police on 101 quoting log number 127 of 19th January.”
The University also provides a team of trained Security Staff working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year to ensure students are always studying within a secure environment. Anyone in an emergency should call the Security Reception on 999 or 444 from an internal telephone line.
