Hartlepool bar suffers ‘sickening’ break-in just a week after lockdown reopening

A Hartlepool marina bar owner says he is gutted after he was burgled just a week after reopening from lockdown.
By Mark Payne
Published 18th Jul 2020, 07:00 BST
JP's owner John-Paul Maynard by the door that was damaged when the bar was broken into just a week after reopening.JP's owner John-Paul Maynard by the door that was damaged when the bar was broken into just a week after reopening.
JP's owner John-Paul Maynard by the door that was damaged when the bar was broken into just a week after reopening.

JP’s bar on Navigation Point was broken into during the early hours of Sunday, July 12.

The bar had only been open for a week after being closed for three and a half months because of the coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

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An undisclosed amount of cash was taken after the thief smashed their way in through the front door and raided the till.

The till drawer was also damaged after the burglar broke in and stole cash.The till drawer was also damaged after the burglar broke in and stole cash.
The till drawer was also damaged after the burglar broke in and stole cash.

But regulars and well-wishers have rallied round and raised more than £300 through an online fundraising page created by a friend of owner John-Paul Maynard.

John-Paul told the Mail: “I was devastated when I found out about the break-in. We are a small local business and one of the smallest units down here.

“We had had a good weekend; everybody had been following the procedures we have put in place.

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"I got a phone call early on Sunday morning saying my window had been smashed. It’s sickening.”

The trespasser smashed a double-glazed glass panel in the bottom panel of the front door and damaged the till drawer to get to the cash.

It is believed they used a brick to gain entry.

Along with other bars and restaurants on the marina JP's reopened on July 4, dubbed Super Saturday, after putting social distancing and safety measures in place.

John-Paul said if the lockdown had lasted any longer, he probably would have gone out of business.

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He had to turn staff and customers away last Sunday while police came out to investigate.

Maggie Sweeney, a friend of John-Paul and a regular customer, decided to set up a crowdfunding page at gofundme.com to help replace the stolen cash.

John-Paul said: “It was a really nice gesture. Being a small business when you lose any cash injection it can have a big impact.”

A spokesperson for Cleveland Police confirmed they received a report of a burglary at the premises early on Sunday, July 12, and enquiries are ongoing.

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Anyone with information is asked to contact them on the non-emergency phone number 101 quoting incident number 112375.

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