BUNGLING burglars left behind a trail of blood after trying to break into an empty charity shop till with a hammer.

Thieves ransacked the Cancer Research store, in East Walk, Basildon, by smashing a pane of glass in the front door.

After struggling to smash open the till, the burglars fled with just a roll of receipt paper, some hats and a charity box.

It was one of a string of break-ins at town centre businesses.

The charity shop was targeted overnight between Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15.

Chitra Balbir, the director of the Better Choice furnishings shop, also in East Walk, was left thousands of pounds out of pocket when burglars raided his shop.

He said: "They broke in through a window at the back of the shop and stole hundreds of pounds worth of bags.

"They had been in a week earlier and stole hundreds of pounds from the till, but that time they didn't take any goods.

"It's awful that this has happened. This is my livelihood.

"It would be good to have CCTV in the area to catch anyone suspicious. Also I think that the council and the landlord need to make sure that the back yard is properly secure.

"People walk by there all the time and I have no idea who they are."

On the same night, the windows to nearby Jersey Joes sandwich shop and Partners barbers, both in East Square, were smashed.

Karen Francis, who works at Jersey Joes, said: "We noticed the damage when we came into town to do some shopping.

"We noticed three hammer marks on the windows so they had obviously used a hammer to smash the windows.

"They didn't get inside though so it just seems like mindless damage."

Paul Sadler, who owns Partners, added: "I came in in the morning and noticed that a small window had been smashed in the corner.

"We've but a cover over it now and we're waiting for it to be repaired.

"There's been a lot of shops targeted like this over recent weeks but luckily they didn't get inside."

An Essex Police spokesman said: "Burglars smashed glass on the front door of Cancer Research UK in East Walk, Basildon, between 5pm on May 14 and 9.40am on May 15.

"They carried out a messy search, stole some loose change and a charity box and damaged a till.

"A front window of Jersey Joes sandwich shop in East Square was cracked sometime on May 14 and a front window of Partners in East Square was damaged between 5pm and 10.15pm on May 15."

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.