Coventry's popular music venue HMV Empire was burgled this week. Thieves broke into the Hertford Street establishment overnight, with it being discovered by staff on Thursday.

It is thought thieves gained access via the ongoing building work happening as part of the city centre south scheme. Images shared online by venue owner Phil Rooney show damage to the venue's window, smashed up gaming machines inside, and what looks like a scaffold pole strewn across a chair. The tills and safe were also interfered with.

CCTV footage shows the thieves on the balcony - inside one of them is seen with his arms clutched around a charity tin on the bar.

Mr Rooney told CoventryLive: "We’ve never had a break-in, even at the old venue on Far Gosford Street.

"It looks like they have climbed over the back

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