UNLUCKY businessman Michael Rogan believes gales not only cost him a brick wall but gave thieves the perfect opportunity to raid his business.

He is still counting the cost of his misfortune which culminated in raiders plundering his premises and stealing almost £5,000 of property.

His run of bad luck began when the Christmas Eve gales demolished a 25ft wall at his Clayton-le-Moors business, Atlas Cable Recycling.

Michael spent Christmas Day trying to clear up the mess and discovered that two CCTV cameras were crushed under the toppled wall.

He was unable to rebuild the wall in time to keep intruders from the metal recycling business in Atlas Street.

A gang broke into the former mill two weeks after the storm.

Mr Rogan, 25, who has run the business for two years, said: "The fallen wall was the only weak spot in the whole place.

"It is just bad luck but things can only get better. We have installed new security measures and are looking at fixing the wall."

The raiders stole two tonnes of copper wiring packed in bags after climbing into the room where they were stored by a disused lift shaft.

They also got away with a Dell computer system, a CCTV camera, a time lapse video recorder and a cordless drill.

The property was worth £4,775.

Anyone with information about the raid should contact Accrington CID on 01254 382141.

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