Arson and Burglary at Boyes Store in Cleethorpes Causes Devastating Stock Damage

A major department store in the heart of Cleethorpes has been left with extensive smoke damage and ruined stock after a commercial break-in escalated into a deliberate act of arson. The incident, which took place in the early hours of Wednesday, October 30, 2024, resulted in the immediate arrest of a 32-year-old man at the scene.

Early Morning Break-In and Fire

Humberside Police officers were dispatched to the Boyes department store on Cleethorpes High Street at approximately 3:50 a.m. following emergency calls reporting a break-in. Witnesses and security alarms indicated that an intruder had forced entry into the retail premises. Once inside, the suspect attempted to gather various items to steal. In a chaotic turn of events, the intruder then deliberately set fire to property within the store before attempting to flee.

Fire crews and police officers arrived rapidly at the High Street location. While firefighters worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from engulfing neighboring properties, police officers located and detained the suspect inside the building. The fire was successfully extinguished, but the resulting thick smoke spread throughout the department store, destroying the vast majority of the stock on display and forcing the business to close its doors to the public temporarily.

Suspect Facing Multiple Charges

The 32-year-old suspect was taken into custody and faces a series of serious charges in connection with the incident. Police confirmed he was arrested on suspicion of burglary, arson, possession of a bladed article, and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker during his arrest. The local business association has expressed deep sympathy for the staff at Boyes, highlighting the devastating impact of combined burglary and arson on national and local retail chains alike.