Launch Coffee Glasgow ‘sickened’ after West End charity café break-in

Launch Coffee No. 2, at 58 Cresswell Street, was broken into at around 1.50 am on Tuesday, February 3. The door was smashed, the till damaged and money taken.

All profits from the shop go towards funding Launch Foods’ work providing food to children across the city, regardless of their circumstances at home.

Glasgow Live reports that charity founder Craig Johnson said: “The coffee shop helps fund the charity, and it has not been open that long yet in the West End. So when I received a phone call earlier in the morning from the police to say that the shop had been broken into, I was a bit disappointed because of what we do.

“So just the damage they’d done and the cash they’d stolen was just a bit sickening, to be honest. You know, we work hard to do what we do, so the thought of anyone just thinking it’s okay to break into a charity coffee shop, I’m just at a loss for words. In the hospitality sector, it’s tough times for everyone at the moment, and the last thing you need is a £500 bill to repair a door.”

Launch Coffee No. 2, at 58 Cresswell Street, was broken into at around 1.50 am on Tuesday, February 3. (Image: Supplied: Launch Glasgow)

Despite the break-in, Johnson said the charity was determined not to let the incident disrupt its work. He told Glasgow Live: “We’ve got things back in place very quickly, and the guys at Glasgow Glass came and fixed the door, so it didn’t interrupt the day too much.

“But if anyone wants to help us feed more kids, they can make a donation to the charity from the main page of Launch. Knowing that every pound we receive feeds a kid, whether they feel generous enough to donate or anything more than that, it would be put to good use. Or come into Launch Coffee on Cresswell Street and have a coffee.

“I don’t want to get too down about it because I just can’t let some individual spoil the work we’re doing.”

Police Scotland said it is investigating. A spokesperson said: “Around 1.50am on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, officers received a report of a break-in and theft at premises on Cresswell Street, Glasgow.

“Enquiries are ongoing.”