Community rallies after cafe burgled twice

Police said they were investigating burglaries at several businesses in the area

A cafe which was burgled twice in 48 hours is back up and running after the community rallied behind it.

Mike’s Cafe on Redcar High Street was burgled overnight into Tuesday and Wednesday, which its owner described as "horrible".

A fundraising appeal was set up to help get the business back on track and and has so far raised more than £2,000.

Cleveland Police said it was investigating a series of burglaries in the area and two men had been arrested and released on bail.

Cafe owner Mike Lambert said: “It was horrible, horrible.

"They took packs of bacon, cash, and jars of coffee.

"Then when they came back the next night, they took more money but I didn’t leave much here overnight because I’d learnt my lesson there, so they just trashed the place.

"I’m just so grateful to everyone who has helped.”

Mike Lambert said he was grateful to everyone who had helped

Sally Bowman, a former colleague and friend of Mr Lambert, set up a fundraising page and set a target of £250, but it currently stands at more than £2,000.

She said: “Mike is such a nice man, anyone will tell you that, how much money we’ve raised is testament to how nice of a man he is.

"He’s so loved. I just knew we had to help him, and I set up the Go Fund Me within about five minutes.

"It’s Redcar all over. We are a real community here."

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: "Officers in Redcar are investigating burglaries to several businesses on Redcar High Street in the early hours of Tuesday 20 August.

"Two men, aged 58 and 45, have since been arrested and bailed."

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