Safe raiders torch the Bengal Brasserie

11:03am Monday 19th May 2008

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THIEVING arsonists torched a restaurant after stealing thousands of pounds from the safe.

Raiders broke into the Bengal Brasserie, on Millfield Road, Nether Poppleton, York, in the early hours of yesterday morning and stole about £5,000 in cash from the restaurant's safe before setting the place alight.

Fire investigation officers confirmed the incident is being treated as arson and police are appealing for information about the blaze, which happened shortly before 4am.

The fire caused damage to the main interior of the restaurant, ruining pictures, seating and causing smoke damage to the walls.

Restaurant owner, Iqbal Chowdhury, said because of the fire the restaurant would have to close for a month and he would lose thousands of pounds in takings.

Mr Chowdhury, who also owns a Bengal Brasserie restaurant on Goodramgate, York, said: "I came into the restaurant at about 3pm on Sunday afternoon and saw the damage done to the restaurant. My pictures, seats, walls - everything is ruined.

"Burglars broke into my restaurant and stole about £5,000 from the safe and as they left they set fire to my restaurant.

"We are going to have to close down for about a month to get everything replaced - it will cost me thousands - I don't know how much can be recovered from the fire."

Alan Bell, of the fire investigation unit, confirmed the fire had been set on purpose by the intruders.

He said: "The cause of the fire was deliberate; North Yorkshire Police are investigating into the stolen money taken from the safe."

A spokeswoman from the York fire service said: "We attended an incident at a restaurant in Great North Way, Nether Poppleton, near York. We received a call at 3.53am reporting smoke coming from the building.

"We mobilised crews from Acomb and York to the fire which was within the restaurant.

"The fire caused ten per cent heat and fire to seating, wall and ceiling fan and 60 per cent smoke damage to the property.

"The crews used three hose rails, six breathing apparatus and imaging cameras."

A spokesman from North Yorkshire Police yesterday said: "We arrived at the restaurant about 6.30am after the fire had been extinguished by the fire services.

"They were alerted to the fire by a worker at a nearby BP petrol garage. Investigations are pending."

Anyone with information about the arson attack is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247.