Referendum- Gate

Sunderland Echo
7th October
Break-in at No campaign's HQ
A BURGLAR has smashed his way into the third-floor office of anti-regional assembly campaigners.

The North East No group, which has its campaign base in Frederick Street, Sunderland, arrived for work this morning to find a window panel broken.Campaign front man Neil Herron said the window had eight panels and one of them was now missing.

He said: "There's a great big hole in the window and we're on the third floor, some 60ft up so they must have done some climbing to get in here."You wouldn't think it possible that somebody could come through the window as we're so high up."Shards of glass were on the inside of the office and several hundred pounds from the group's petty cash box had been stolen along with a digital camera.Checks were still being made to see if anything else had been stolen but the culprit had looked in office files, possibly to see if there was more cash.

Mr Herron did not think that any information held by the group had gone missing. It also looked as if the culprit had left the office by the window."It was some burglar, to have got in here. I have ruled out Mr Prescott though as the hole in the window is not big enough."One of my ties was also stolen and then that was found thrown away in the street, probably after they saw it in the light," joked Mr Herron.

Police had been informed and were visiting the offices as the Echo went to press.Mr Herron added: "It is strange, very strange. It might be a small setback for a day or two but it won't affect our work."
07 October 2004