Coronation Curry House: Thief breaks into popular restaurant, owner offers them help

A brazen thief smashed the front door to a popular curry house in Bedminster in the early hours of this morning (September 11) - only to get away with around £30.

The Coronation Curry House had a temporary door in place this afternoon after the break-in, which was the second in two weeks after a similar incident on August 28 when an offender again made off with a small amount of cash.

Owner Nilsesh Bhosale told Bristol World he had sympathy for the offender(s), who he offered to help if they were short of money for food. He also thanked the local community for the messages of support after being alerted to the incident.

The curry house - rated number one restaurant on TripAdvisor in Bristol - had only been closed for a matter of hours last night when CCTV showed an unidentified person first loitering around the front door before smashing it at around 12.30am.

The person is then seen walking through the narrow restaurant to search the bar area and a back room. After three minutes the person leaves with the small amount of cash from the till.

They also rip down and take away the CCTV camera inside - but recorded footage was still available for Mr Bhosale to hand over to police this morning.

Mr Bhosale was alerted to the break-in thanks to a neighbour who got in contact with him after noticing the damage to the door.

On arrival from his home in Knowle, the owner inspected the damage before waiting several hours for someone to come out and take out the smashed glass.

“It will cost me around £400 for the door - much more than what was taken on both thefts, that’s the sad thing about it really,” he said from inside the restaurant just before mid-day today.

The owner believes the person was desperate given the break-in took place at a time motorists and pedestrians were passing on the busy road, which runs along the Avon Cut.

He said: “They must have been coming in looking for cash as no alcohol was taken. Strange really, as we don’t hold much here overnight.

“I am feeling sorry for the person. If they are hungry I’d be happy to help them with food, they can contact me. Every Thursday we put on a meal for four for people who are in desperate need or have a medical condition.

“It’s really sad.”

Following the door repair this morning a sign was put up warning people to take care with the rough surface. It read ‘due to emergency repaired door it has arough surface. Please open carefully, sorry for inconvenience. Regards. Someone broke in last night.”

Despite the break-in, the restaurant was set to reopen for business this evening at 5.30pm.

Mr Bhosale said: “I just want to thank the amazing Bristol community who informed me of the incident in late hours and made me aware and offered help. Really overwhelmed with the kind gesture from all.”