A brazen thief was caught on camera battering down the door of a well-known Greenwich fish and chip shop in the early hours, making off with a till full of coins – many of them 10p pieces. The incident at Jack The Chipper on Saturday, January 3, 2026, has left the owner facing a repair bill twenty times the value of the stolen cash.
‘Professional’ Raid on ‘Iconic’ Greenwich Chippy
CCTV footage from the shop in southeast London shows a figure in a beanie hopping off a bicycle before forcefully kicking in the glass front door. The burglar, who was wearing gloves, headed straight for the counter and was seen stuffing his pockets with money from the till.
Owner Mehmet Cafer, 44, confirmed the stolen money was worth less than £150, mostly comprised of small change. "He took all the cash including the coins, even the 10p’s. It is disgusting," Cafer said. "He broke our door for £120." The damage to the door, however, is set to cost around £2,000 to fix, with £300 needed for the lock alone.
The break-in was discovered at approximately 6am when the fresh fish delivery arrived, prompting an immediate call to Mehmet. "When I got the call I jumped out of bed. My missus couldn’t even believe it," he recounted.
Owner Slams Police as Greenwich ‘Declines’
This is not the first time Jack The Chipper has been targeted, with Mehmet stating this was the third such incident. He also reported that several other local businesses have been victims of similar crimes. Expressing his frustration, he criticised the police response to the latest break-in.
"I spoke to the police and nothing is happening," Mehmet claimed. "They didn’t even come to get the CCTV. They must be too busy. They are not doing anything." He described Greenwich as an area in decline, citing increased graffiti and a feeling of deteriorating safety. "Greenwich is supposed to be safe, but it is one of the worst now," he added.
The shop itself has been a topic of local discussion in the past due to its punny name, with some residents previously complaining it "glorified a serial killer." The owner has stood by the name and has no plans to change it.
Passion for Trade Trumps Frustration
Despite the setback and a difficult start to the year with falling sales, Mehmet Cafer vowed never to give up on his business. "Everything has gone wrong from January 1. Sales have gone down and with all the thefts on top as well things are hard," he explained.
His dedication to the trade, however, remains unwavering. "I will never give up. Fish and chips is a passion for me, I love it," he stated, emphasising that his anger stemmed from frustration rather than the financial loss.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they received a report of the incident and that enquiries are ongoing.
