Burglary at Green Fingers Garden Centre in South Shields

Break-in reported at South Shields business

According to an article published on 17 December 2025 by Chroniclelive, a garden centre in South Shields was the target of a burglary. Operations manager Kenny Coates was alerted to the incident via his phone's alarm system at 10:45pm on Saturday, 13 December.

Chroniclelive reports that Northumbria Police attended the scene on Western Approach shortly after the alarm was triggered. Although officers arrived within minutes, the perpetrator managed to escape through a back exit, smashing two windows during the process. Approximately £500 in staff tips were stolen during the break-in. Mr. Coates noted that while the business's cash is insured, the staff tips were not, causing significant distress to the family-run establishment.

In response to the incident, the local community has contributed to an online fundraiser to replace the stolen funds, successfully reaching the £500 target. Northumbria Police confirmed that they received a report of the burglary at approximately 10:40pm on the night of the event. Business owners are encouraged to review their security measures and ensure that all cash handling procedures are as secure as possible to deter potential intruders.

Source : Chroniclelive