Cafe owner's despair after repeated break-ins

Emanuele Pecorari (pictured) said the burglaries had been "stressful"

A cafe owner whose business was burgled four times in a single week has said the thefts have left him feeling "helpless".

Emanuele Pecorari said his Ciao kiosk, in York’s Museum Gardens, was targeted between 3 and 8 September.

The 42-year-old said money and goods totalling £200 had been swiped - and he also had to foot the cost of repairs.

Mr Pecorari said extra security had now been put in place leaving the business looking like a “high security prison".

'Hope worst is over'

“It hasn’t felt great knowing that every night people could access the business so easily, so I’ve been feeling a bit helpless.

"Now we have tightened security and feel a bit more positive and confident that it should be safer," said the business owner, who has run the site with wife Sophie since March 2023.

"I really believe they are not going to get in anymore as we are now like a high security prison."

"I really hope the worst is over," the former ice cream seller added.

More than a million visitors visit museum gardens each year

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said they were investigating the thefts and urged anyone with information to get in touch.

Richard Saward, head of visitor experience at York Museums Trust, which runs the Museum Gardens, said it was "very sad" to hear of the break-ins.

“We are working with Ciao to put in place a number of different measures to help combat the problem.

“We welcome around 1.3 million visitors into our gardens each year and we want to keep the gardens a safe and enjoyable space for everyone to enjoy," he added.

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