Launceston Cornwall - A north Cornwall businessman has offered the Launceston Steam Railway a free CCTV camera after the attraction's shop was robbed at knifepoint in August.
 
The incident happened at the booking office and shop on 30 Aug 2015 when a shop assistant in her seventies was threatened by a man with a knife, who then made off with hundreds of pounds from the till.
 
Police arrested a Launceston man, who has since died, and no other suspects are being investigated.
 
Ian Rocks, who runs security company Rocks Locks in Madford Lane, Launceston, said he offered the free camera as soon as he learned of the crime, but the steam railway had instead opted to install a full CCTV system to cover as much of the area as possible, which he was installing at cost price.
 
Mr. Rocks said:  "I find it so upsetting to hear these things are happening more often. It's even more shocking when it's at one of our local pieces of history. My first job was an apprenticeship on the London Underground and I became a signalman on the railway. My father was a fireman on the (record-breaking steam locomotive) Mallard so I have a keen interest in steam railways and I wanted to help as soon as I heard the news."
 
He added the he hoped the new camera would be a deterrent and make railway staff feel more secure as any potential criminals would know evidence was being gathered which could be used against them.
 
Launceston Steam Railway director Jonathan Mann said the member of staff targeted was fine but had been through an upsetting experience.
 
"We're very grateful to Ian Rocks for offering a free CCTV camera but we decided we needed to install a full setup to cover the complex which he's very kindly offered to install at cost price," he said.
 
"The footage from our old camera was black and white and not up to current standards, it was somewhat reminiscent of the old Doctor Who episodes. People need to ensure that any images they're recording and any equipment they have meets the current requirements of the Crown Prosecution Service or it may not be sufficient to bring a prosecution."
 
Rocks Locks is now offering free security checks for home owners.
 
Author Anonymous.