Masked raiders used bolt croppers to break into a metal container at an industrial estate in Salford and stole £25,000 of commercial kitchen equipment - then returned twice more the same day to take more. The family business owner discovered the crime on Monday morning and later found his insurance did not cover the containers.
Three raids in one afternoon
The thefts took place at the Orchard Sawmills industrial estate in Salford on Sunday 16 August 2026, at 1pm, 1.45pm and again at 2.30pm. Two masked men, one wearing a hi-vis jacket, reversed a low-loader into the site and loaded boxes of goods onto a flatbed truck. They worked in tandem, possibly with an unseen lookout nearby, and were not spotted because it was a Sunday.
The stolen goods included microwaves, waffle-makers and ice-cream makers, all stored in metal containers outside the warehouse. The owner, a 47-year-old father-of-three who asked not to be named, said the containers were recently added and were not covered by his insurance policy.
Owner's frustration
“Our warehouse is insured but not the containers which have only recently been added as they are considered outbuildings,” he said. “Every time I think about it I have a stomach ache. It's horrible when you work for something like this so hard and somebody just comes in and takes it. It's something new to me. I've never had anything like this before. It's very bad. I'm thinking about moving to a safer place.”
He added: “I don't really care about the stuff. I care about the police getting these people. I have a lot of security but it didn't stop them. They are organised. There was a plan. I'm not angry. I'm more annoyed.” The owner believes some of the stolen goods are being sold on Facebook.
Police investigation
Greater Manchester Police confirmed they are investigating reports of a burglary at the premises on Langley Road South in Salford. A spokeswoman said in a statement: “We have received a report of a business burglary at a premises on Langley Road South in Salford on Sunday 16 August 2026.”
