BUSINESS owners who spotted a thief on CCTV footage as he stole their security camera are hoping the public can help identify him.
On December 5 the CCTV camera at the Right Lines smoothie bar on St Helens Road went missing.
Manager Kazhdost Ibrahim said staff assumed it had been blown off in high winds.
But when a replacement camera, installed at a cost of £120, disappeared just a week later they decided to check its recording.
They were amazed to see a man, in his 30s, removing it from its mounting in the early hours of the morning.
"He wasn't shy about doing it. Cars are coming past all the time on St Helens Road," said Miss Ibrahim.
"We had no idea why he was doing it
"We did not think for one second that someone would take the CCTV camera."
The theft, which was reported to police, preceded someone cutting the shop's internet cable and then an unsuccessful attempt to drill open the shop's security shutters.
Since the crime spree, shop owner Kalid Nory has had a third CCTV camera installed, out of reach in a higher location to protect the shop, which sells smoothies, juices and shisha equipment.
The business owners now hope someone will recognise the thief and identify him to police.
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