Shahriar Ebrahimi described the breaks in as “devastating” with thousands of pounds worth of stock stolen
Shahriar Ebrahimi, 33, from Huyton, opened Luminous Bar and Restaurant on Smithdown Road this summer after pouring lots of time and money into the venue(Image: Liverpool ECHO/Andy Teebay)
An owner is heartbroken after his family-run restaurant was broken into twice in two days. Shahriar Ebrahimi, 33, from Huyton, opened Luminous Bar and Restaurant on Smithdown Road this summer after pouring lots of time and money into the venue.
Shahriar said money from the tills, champagne and other drinks from the bar, and kitchen supplies had been taken during the two thefts. Merseyside Police have confirmed it is investigating the two incidents and has urged anyone with information to come forward.
The business revealed on Friday (October 24) it had been burgled earlier that morning. In a Facebook post, it said: “In the early hours of this morning, our family-run restaurant was broken into.
“A significant amount of our stock was stolen, which will have a devastating impact on our small business.
“As an independent, family-operated restaurant, we’re unsure how we’ll recover from this loss. We’re kindly asking anyone local to us to please check any Ring doorbell footage or CCTV from around 6am on 24/10/25, in case you may have captured anything that could help.
“Your support and help mean the world to us during this difficult time. Thank you for standing with your local businesses. Police have been informed.”
Shahriar Ebrahimi described the breaks in as “devastating” with thousands of pounds worth of stock stolen(Image: Liverpool ECHO/Andy Teebay)
Last night, the business announced there had been a second break-in. The Facebook post said: “We are very sad to be posting this but we were broken into again last night — 26/10/25 at 1.55am.
“We have CCTV footage of the intruder, and we’re asking everyone in the area to please check your Ring doorbells, CCTV, or dashcams for any suspicious activity around that time.
“Even the smallest bit of information could really help us. We truly appreciate your support during this heartbreaking time for our family business. Thank you so much for your help and kindness.”
On the break-in, Shahriar told the ECHO: “We launched our new launch menu on Friday. We have a small family business, so it’s affected us so badly.
Shah believes two burglars broke-in on Friday via either a small window in the kitchen or the fire exit, with one person getting in on Sunday through a window in the storage room.
Shah said: “They’ve taken money from the till and all of the stuff from the bar. It’s about £3,000 worth of stock from the bar, including champagne. Things from the kitchen have been taken too.
“In total, they’ve taken more than £5,000 to £6,000 I think, I’m not sure. They’ve left the freezer open and it’s a walk-in freezer, so we’ve had to bin a lot of stuff.”
It’s particularly heartbreaking for Shah who has poured so much money and effort into getting the restaurant up and running.
He said: “We opened just before summer. I got a business loan and I spent all of that on the shop. All of that money has gone now. I got about £25,000 but I had to pay for the rest.”
Shah thanked customers and locals for their support as he appealed for anyone with information about the incidents to come forward. He said: “If people see this and think it was their family member or someone like that, let the police know.”
When contacted by the ECHO, a spokesperson for Merseyside Police confirmed an investigation was underway.
The police force said it was contacted at 9.55am on Friday October 24 following reports a break-in had occurred at Luminous restaurant on Smithdown Road, during which cash, bottles of alcohol, food and electrical goods had been taken.
Forensic and CCTV investigations have been carried out and enquiries remain ongoing.
The force was contacted again at just before 10am on Sunday October 26. It is believed between 9.30pm on Saturday (October 25) and 9.50am on Sunday (October 26), unknown offenders entered the restaurant and stole cash, alcohol and food. Damage was also caused to a window and a till.
Investigations into both burglaries remain ongoing and CCTV and witness enquiries are being carried out.
Detective Inspector Paula Jones said: “Stealing from businesses is not victimless. It impacts people’s livelihoods and their incomes and we have a zero-tolerance approach to those who choose to commit such crimes.“We will continue to work with our local businesses and communities to deter and prevent business burglaries and would welcome any information from the community about other burglaries or the sale of stolen goods.”
Anyone with information on the incidents can contact the Merseyside Police social media desk @MerPolCC on X and Facebook quoting reference 25000878722 or 25000873118. You can also report information via the force’s website here or by calling 101. Alternatively, you contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via its website here.