Thieves target restaurant

THE owner of an Indian restaurant near Polegate is fed up being targeted by thieves.

Joynul Hoque, proprietor of the K2 Indian restaurant at Summerhill off the A22, is furious that crooks have broken into his out-of-the-way eatery twice in as many weeks.

On Saturday last week, inept raiders broke in at some time between 2.30pm and 5.30pm while K2 was unmanned and set about rummaging through papers.

'They messed everything up,' said Mr Hoque. 'They also had a go at the kitchen we had to throw a lot of food away when we returned later that day. It was a real mess.'

The luckless thieves also tried to break open the cigarette machine but failed, so left the premises empty-handed. According to Mr Hoque, the machine was empty anyway, but the damage caused will be costly to put right.

However, this attack was the last straw as far as Mr Hoque is concerned. Two weeks ago, thieves were rather more successful in their efforts to wreak havoc at K2.

'All of my computer equipment was stolen, along with some cash and some cases of wine,' said Mr Hoque. 'They even took the payphone. I honestly don't know what to do next.'

One remedy that the 27-year-old proprietor can think of would involve converting part of the restaurant to a bedroom. With somebody living on-site, he thinks, burglars would not have such an easy run for their money.

Sadly for Mr Hoque, his planning application to do just that at K2 was turned down by the district council's planning committee just weeks ago for the second time.

'These thieves have hit other Indian restaurants in the area as well apparently,' said Mr Hoque. 'I hear they broke into one in Polegate after they did mine, and another in Eastbourne.

'Since the bypass road works finished outside my restaurant, business has improved a lot, but it's still not quite back to normal. I can't afford to be burgled like this on a regular basis.'

Readers with any information about the two crimes mentioned above should contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.