A DESPERATE restaurant owner today called on borough leaders to make greater use of CCTV cameras after his shop was burgled. Thieves made off with around £80 after smashing their way into the Gulshan Indian take away in Ipswich's Stoke Street in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A DESPERATE restaurant owner today called on borough leaders to make greater use of CCTV cameras after his shop was burgled.

Thieves made off with around £80 after smashing their way into the Gulshan Indian take away in Ipswich's Stoke Street in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Angry owner Aklasur Rahman claimed the raid was only the latest in a long line of criminal activity to blight the area.

And he urged those holding the purse strings at Ipswich Borough Council to find the cash needed to install security cameras, which he believes would deter vandals and burglars.

“I have been a victim of crime for so long and this is a troubled area,” he said.

“We've had the windows broken before, the back doors smashed and only last week somebody broke into my car and took some money. And we are on a main road, too.

“Now this has happened - I can't believe it.

“CCTV would help - it would certainly make people think twice.”

Mr Rahman has been trading for 12 years and said he was determined not to let anti-social behaviour force him out.

“Despite all of this, we want to carry on as a business,” he said. “We are here to stay.”

An Ipswich Borough Council spokesman said: “We are sorry to hear of the situation and would urge Mr Rahman to contact the Crime Reduction Team at Ipswich police.

“We have received no reports on this incident.”

Police are appealing for witnesses to the burglary to contact Pc Edward Miles at the Ipswich Neighbourhood Response Team by calling 01473 613500 or phoning Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Is crime blighting your community? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk