Nursery heist attempt captured on CCTV

A police investigation is ongoing into the incident at The Nursery on the Hill in Parbold and an appeal for witnesses has been launched.

Bosses at the nursery have labelled the gang’s action “disgusting” stating nothing of value is kept on the premises overnight.

Area manager Roz Darlington told the Evening Post: “You could almost understand an opportunist thief walking past and thinking; is there a computer in there?

“But these unpleasant individuals have tried to break down the door and have caused a lot of damage trying to get in.”

The gang left empty handed having first failed to gain entry through the front door and then attempting to break-in though a side entrance.

The striking images captured on the nursery’s CCTV system show the offenders wearing hoods and attempting to cover their faces.

On some of the shots, though, their features are clearly visible.

Ms Darlington added: “They’ve all got ski-masks on, it is apparent it was premeditated as they had hoods, gloves and hammers, it looks like they’re robbing a bank.

“We’re in no doubt that if they had broken in and then found there was nothing in here worth taking they would have smashed the place up.

“We’re a day nursery school next to a church and we’ve worked really hard to get this environment for our young people, I think it’s disgusting.”

The CCTV images and footage has been passed on to Lancashire Police and staff at the nursery believe the clarity of the images may mean a member of the public may be able to identify one of more of the offenders.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police told the Evening Post that an investigation was ongoing but no arrests have been made.

The attempted break-in occurred just after midnight on July 31 at the nursery on Parbold Hill.

Anyone with information about the attempted break-in or the CCTV images is asked to contact the force quoting reference number LC/20160801/0850/