BUSINESSES are appealing for information after being repeatedly targeted by thieves stealing metal and cables.

One company, Altech Trading Ltd, is so fed up of falling victim it has resorted to spending thousands of pounds on high quality security equipment to catch them in the act and provide enough evidence to police to get justice.

Adam Sturridge has worked at Altech Trading Ltd, on the Temple Farm industrial estate, Southend, for eight years and says it has been a frustrating time for the family-run business.

The assistant manager said: “We first noticed on June 5 because they had left some pallets leant up against the back fence so we checked CCTV and you can see them searching.

“But we have so much in the yard and so much stock we couldn’t really tell what they had taken.

“Since then we spent thousands having high-resolution cameras so we can get clear images of them.

“It’s now got to the point where it is almost once a week and you can see it is the same people.

“I’ve now got it set up so the cameras have motion sensor and alert me on my phone when they go in there.

“I have gone down before to try and catch them and called police because you never know if they will cave my head in.

“I waited for an hour but the police didn’t turn up.”

The most recent incident took place last Friday when the suspects broke in and stole £600 of copper cabling.

They are also suspected of targetting several other businesses in the area including Premier Metals in Southend, and Benfleet Scrap.

Mr Sturridge, 28, added: “It’s the effort having to take so much time securing all our most expensive stock in the most secure part of the building - it’s frustrating.

“What they are taking is not a small amount for any business.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We are investigating a number of incidents at a business on the Temple Farm Industrial Estate in Southend. One took place between 4pm on June 4 and 7.30am on June 5. A second incident took place at around 10.20pm on July 13. Our investigation is ongoing.”

CCTV images of persons of interest who may have information have been released by the firm.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “If you have information call us on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”