Burglary misery as Woolies staff face uncertain future
The town's High Street store – which was targeted on Sunday by burglars – is still trading after the business became the biggest casualty yet of the credit crunch.
Shoppers in Uttoxeter yesterday were shocked by the collapse of the firm after 99 years on the high street.
Mother-of-two Kerry Spence, of Uttoxeter, said: "Woolworths is a popular shop, especially for CDs and DVDs; the prices are very competitive.
"It would be a real shame if it was to shut down. I know a lot of people who would be disappointed."
Another shopper, who declined to be named, said: "It wouldn't be so bad if Woolworths was going to be replaced by a big name but that just isn't going to happen. The last thing Uttoxeter needs is another shop closing down."
A worker, who also wished to remain unnamed, said: "We are having to hear the latest developments on the news. I just wish we knew for certain where we stood."
Meanwhile, police are investigating after thieves broke into the Uttoxeter store to grab computer games consoles.
It happened at about 4am on Sunday and a number of Nintendo DS machines were stolen.
Officers are now appealing for witnesses who saw a dark blue hatchback car driving suspiciously around the town centre early on Sunday morning.
An unnamed Woolworths worker said: "It's a shock. No thefts like this have happened here for at least a couple of years.
"Staff were alerted immediately and the broken window needed covering with wooden boards straight away so the store could get ready to open as usual."
Since the burglary, the store has changed the layout of its goods in an effort to prevent similar crimes.
The worker said: "All our games consoles are now kept locked away. It just doesn't seem worth the risk to keep them on the shelves.
"In a mixture of the normal seasonal rush and the theft, we haven't got many left."
The number of games consoles taken – which cost £99.99 in Woolworths – remains undisclosed.
Inspector Darren Harding, of Uttoxeter Police, said: "We are looking into a number of different lines of inquiry.
"The criminals were in the shop for less than a minute to take a small number of consoles.
"We have checked CCTV coverage of the area and we are now waiting on scene-of-crime forensic results.
"Electrical items such as Nintendo DSs can normally be sold on very easily at this time of year but we have intelligence working to catch these thieves."
Repair work expected to run into hundreds of pounds is now needed on the shop's front door, which is the main customer entrance.
It comes only two months after the shop front needed similar attention after vandals went on a wrecking spree across the town centre.
As well as Woolworths, windows at Birds, also in High Street, and the Sheard's garage, in Carter Street, were smashed in the early hours of Tuesday, September 16.
Anyone with information about the burglary or the car is urged to call Uttoxeter Police on 08453 302010 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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