A TOWN centre businessman is today renewing calls for CCTV in a busy shopping street after his store was raided.

Former Shear Brow councillor Muntazir Patel’s jewellery and fashion store Krystalz in Whalley Range was burgled overnight between Thursday and Friday.

At some point between 11pm and 7.30am, the shutters were forced up and concrete brick smashed through the bottom glass panel of the front door.

Around £100 from the till was stolen, along with some items of jewellery.

A passing detective spotted the break-in yesterday morning and alerted his colleagues and Mr Patel.

Mr Patel said: “For the four years I was in the council people came to me and asked for CCTV to cover Whalley Range.

“But it always comes back to cost with the council bosses.

“We are trying to bring people in to Whalley Range from across the north west because we have such a good range of shops.

“But we are having problems with theft, burglary and crime which make the area seem neglected. CCTV is also about public safety.”

The nearest CCTV camera is on Victoria Street, across Barbara Castle Way.

Last year a teenage gang burst into Malabis Fashion store in nearby Randal Street and threatened the female shop assistant with a knife.

At the time another former councillor and resident Hussain Akhtar called for more security and claimed that police and the council should be using council tax and business rates to pay for cameras.

Mr Patel, who was ousted as a councillor in May, said he now faces a bill to repair his shop and replace his goods.

Police are investigating and anyone with information should call 0845 125 3545.