AN angry businessman is offering a reward to find thieves who stole thousands of pounds in cash from his offices.

Barry Ralph, owner of the Westfield Takeaway in Westfield Close, on the Rawreth Industrial Estate, Rayleigh, is offering £250 to anyone with information that leads to the thieves’ conviction.

Mr Ralph arrived for work at 5.30am to find his offices had been broken into and cash stolen.

He believes two other businesses were targeted on the same estate and has pledged his own money to help bring the thieves to justice.

He said: “It’s just so frustrating, we’re all trying to make a living and these little scumbags come and do this.

“From our CCTV footage they spent the night over here, three of them.

“They must be quite a professional outfit. They broke in through the front and through our security gate.

“They just stole money. There were laptops and all sorts of other things, but they made a right mess and just stole cash. I’ve put this reward up because I just want to catch them.”

The police were called by Mr Ralph around 5.40am and crime scene officers were sent to investigate.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We were called following report of a breakin and doors being forced. We are aware of CCTV and will be examining it.”

The break-in happened sometime before 5.30am on Thursday, June 26.

Police were also called to Rayleigh Steels at 7.50am the same morning, again sending crime scene officers to investigate following reports of an overnight break-in and the theft of cash.

Anyone with information can contact Rayleigh police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.