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Gareth McKinstry, owner of Simply Fish & Chip, said it was a costly incident
By
Community correspondent, BBC News NI
More traders in Belfast have voiced fears about the safety of their businesses after two further break-ins in the city centre.
A café owner warned last week the situation was at a 'tipping point' after his premises were targeted.
Two more businesses nearby have since been broken into and money stolen.
Belfast is preparing to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city for the all-Ireland music and dance festival, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which begins on Sunday.
The latest shops to be burgled were Simply Fish & Chip on Oxford Street, and Juko cafe on Gloucester Street. They are a five-minute walk from The Pocket café which was broken into on 18 July.
The latest break-ins were captured on CCTV.
Shane McGann is the director of Juko
Juko was targeted around 02:30 BST on Monday.
Shane McGann, a director of Juko, said security at the café was being reviewed after what happened.
He said: "I hope nothing like this happens in Belfast again. Unfortunately, there's been a spate of burglaries across Belfast city centre over the last few weeks.
"Hopefully we're the last. Thankfully we've had a great police response.
"But I think our biggest fear is that we're sitting on the cusp of the Fleadh, and we know that Belfast is about to be on the world stage next week. I suppose things like this just don't shed Belfast in the light that we're trying to show the city."
Two men, aged 32 and 38, have been arrested.
'It was meant to be one of our busiest days of the year'
The break-in at Simply Fish & Chip happened at about 02:00 BST on Saturday morning.
The break-in at Simply Fish & Chip was about 02:00 BST on Saturday.
Gareth McKinstry, owner of the business, said it was a costly incident.
"Saturday was Pride day and it was meant to be one of our busiest days of the year and we lost all of our morning trade because we couldn't open the shop until the police had finished with their investigation," he said.
"The fleadh is coming next week. I need to get repairs for the window. It's not what we needed and it's not what anybody in Belfast needs, but it seems to be becoming a more common thing happening at the moment."
Police are continuing to investigate recent incidents.
A PSNI spokesperson said: "Enquiries are ongoing, we would appeal to anyone who saw anything or who might have any information – including CCTV, dash-cam or other footage – to contact police."
