Sheffield city centre restaurant closed after thieves smash through brick wall

Burglars struck at Jerk Hut, High Street, Sheffield, at some point between 9pm on Monday and 9am on Tuesday.

Owner Paul Simmonds has only been running the restaurant since September and said the incident had caused considerable damage.

He said: 'I got there this morning and I noticed as soon as I opened the door that somebody had been in.

'They have kicked an extractor fan through to the kitchen and crawled through the back wall to the kitchen and through into the restaurant.'

A poster in the window of the restaurant said the site was closed today and Mr Simmonds said he hoped to reopen on Friday.

He added: 'We don't know how much cash they've taken yet or the extent of the damage. There was only the flow in the till, which is about £50, and it's an electronic till, which is linked to an iPad and they've taken that as well.

'They've also took a Christmas box which had cash in for the waiters and waitresses. Me and my cousin only took over the business in September '“ it's just horrible.'

Mr Simmonds said the incident had caused significant damage to the kitchen but he believed the restaurant was not too badly damaged.

He added: 'I'm hoping that the forensics team will be able to find some prints because it doesn't look they have been too clever about it.'

In a statement, South Yorkshire Police said: 'At 10.48am on Tuesday, it was reported that the Jerk Hut had been broken into and the till and a quantity of cash inside the till had been taken.

'Enquiries are ongoing.'

Anyone with any information should call South Yorkshire Police on 101 or alternatively call, Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.