Open season on Chiswick businesses targeted by burglars

Image above: Burglars attempted to break into Ma Ma Boutique Bakery; Marzena Lubaska

Burglars continue continue to target Chiswick shops

We reported last month about a spate of break-ins at shops on Chiswick High Rd. The ‘spate’ seems to be an ongoing regular crime wave, as more businesses have told us they have been broken into this month, including Ma Ma Boutique Bakery and Gisoo Hair & Beauty Salon.

Ma Ma Boutique Bakery, which opened on the High Rd last August, selling award-winning gluten-free artisan sourdough breads, pastries, sandwiches and sweets, a was targeted by burglars in the early hours of Tuesday morning (2 May).

Marzena Lubaszka, the bakery’s co-owner told The Chiswick Calendar she had considered installing more security when they opened last year, but took the advice of her builders, who told her it was unnecessary since they were  on the High Road.

Her bakery was one of up to five businesses The Chiswick Calendar has been told about, targeted in the area over the past week.

The burglars were unsuccessful in gaining entry to the bakery, but they managed to damage the front door frame and crack the security glass. The incident was captured on CCTV, which showed  they spent about one minute trying to gain access before giving up. The police sent forensic officers to gather evidence the following day.

The incident has left Marzena feeling scared and unsafe, particularly as she often starts work very early in the morning and is usually alone in the bakery.

“I feel scared. I start work very early at about 4.00am and I am usually by myself. Nobody can see from outside that anyone is in. If somebody breaks into the shop and I am there and then they realise someone is there… I could come to harm and I don’t feel safe.”

Images above: Inside Gisoo Hair & Beauty Salon the day after the burglary; Fabi Fazeli

“Why aren’t the police doing anything?”

Gisoo Hair & Beauty Salon was also targeted by the burglars the night before at around 11.30pm (Monday 1 May).

Fabi Fazeli, the salon’s owner, expressed her distress at the damage caused to her business, which had been broken into and ransacked for about 45 minutes. The burglars appeared “desperate for cash” in CCTV footage, she told us. They emptied almost every drawer and container in the salon, and left hairdressing supplies scattered around the shop.

Fabi told The Chiswick Calendar was shocked by the extent of the damage they had caused.

“The damage is [largely] mental because I was shocked,” said Fabi. “The mess was unbelievable, but so far I don’t think they’ve taken anything. They took maybe £20 to £15 in change which we keep to give to customers.”

Fabi reported the incident to the police, who sent forensic officers to collect fingerprint swabs. Despite this, they informed her when leaving there wasn’t enough evidence to pursue the case any further and it was closed.

In the aftermath of the break-in, Fabi had a male friend sleep in the salon overnight, as a precaution in case the burglars returned.

“I feel very insecure and unsafe,” said Fabi, “I don’t understand why people would do this and why the police aren’t doing anything about it”.

She is frustrated at the police’s lack of progress in finding the perpetrators, who had their faces covered and have not been identified.

Both the salon and Ma Ma Boutique Bakery have recordings of the burglars, and the owners of both businesses suspect the burglaries are connected and are urging the police to do more to catch them.

Images above: Ma Ma Boutique Bakery owners Marzena and Nigel, Gisoo Hair & Beauty Salon owner Fabi Fazeli

Unclear whether police have linked break-ins

Ma Ma Boutique Bakery’s owner, Marzena, said the police told her four businesses in total had been targeted on Chiswick High Road in recent days.

Last month The Chiswick Calendar reported the Piano Restaurant, Firezza, and Oxfam Boutique on Chiswick High Rd had all been broken into, as was Aprilmae on Devonshire Road. The burglars used similar tactics with these break-ins, searching for cash during one break-in and in another stealing thousands of pounds worth of merchandise.

In a separate incident on Thursday 27 April a walk-in thief stole personal items and work equipment from Ten Fitness in Barley Mow Passage while the reception desk was not staffed. A man quietly entered reception from the street door and helped himself to a laptop and charger from a cupboard behind reception and a jumper and earphones belonging to one of the gym’s trainers.

We have been told also that Pronto Print and Mary’s Living & Giving have been targeted, as was a dry cleaner’s.

Business owners have repeatedly voiced their concerns about their vulnerability, and traders such as Marzena are thinking to form a neighbourhood watch of High Road businesses because of what they describe as a lack of proper police assistance.

The Chiswick Calendar has approached the Metropolitan Police team to find out how many businesses have been broken into in Chiswick recently, whether these break-ins and burglaries are linked, and whether officers are any closer to identifying suspects. We have not yet received a reply.