Two men have been charged with burglary following a break-in at a Keighley café that left the business owner devastated just hours after hosting a wedding celebration.
Douglas Fryer, 54, of Greenfield Court, Keighley, and Anthony James, 58, of Allerton Road, Bradford, were arrested in connection with the incident at the Endless Kettle Café on North Street. The burglary occurred on Sunday, October 18, forcing the café to remain closed for forensic examination.
Michael Bawol, the owner of the independent business, described the discovery of the break-in as “heart-breaking.” Only the day prior, the premises had been filled with guests celebrating a wedding.
“To go from a room full of happiness to finding it like that the following morning was heart-breaking,” Mr. Bawol said. “We’re a small independent café in Keighley. We’re not swimming in money, and we don’t have a huge market around us. Being hit with this is devastating, and we expect to be recovering financially for months.”
The impact of the incident forced the café to cancel a series of Sunday bookings, including several planned birthday parties. However, Mr. Bawol highlighted the strength of the local community, noting that the response from residents and customers has been overwhelming.
“The messages and offers of help have meant so much,” he said. “People have offered practical help, financial contributions and suggested setting up a GoFundMe or something similar.”
Despite the financial strain caused by the burglary and the subsequent closure, Mr. Bawol has declined to accept cash donations. “We haven’t accepted any financial offers, and we don’t want this to become a fundraising appeal,” he added. “I would much rather have a full café than a full account.”
The Endless Kettle is scheduled to reopen to the public on Thursday, October 22.
The two suspects are now set to face the courts. Anthony James is due to appear before Bradford Magistrates’ Court on December 2, while Douglas Fryer is scheduled to appear at the same court the following day, December 3.
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