BURGLARS targeted three businesses on a Canvey industrial estate that has suffered from about 20 break-ins this year alone.

Smash-and-grab thieves broke through windows at K9 Solutions and iFitness gym, as well as the vanwindowof Urban Interiors in an early morning burglary spree on the Charfleets Industrial Estate.

All three businesses are based in Charfleets Road in a fenced off cul-de-sac. But crooks managed to get into the area, stealing what they could run away with.

They stole two charity boxes and dog treats from K9 Solutions, two iPods from iFitness and a mobile phone from the Urban Interiors van, but business owners say the damage caused will impact more.

Jo Crosby-Deakin, who coowns dog rehab centre K9 Solutions with Jim Yarmouth, said: “We are lucky they didn’t take too much, but it’s the inconvenience which is frustrating.

“We work with sick dogs, so we had to make sure there was no glass anywhere. We have had to pay for a new window. The business is only two years old and something like this eats into our profits.

“Urban Interiors couldn’t go out to jobs on Friday because they couldn’t use their van.”

Two months ago, the Echo reported what was thought to be the 20th break-in on the business park since January when Benfleet Skip Hire had thousands of pounds worth of tools stolen from their yard in Vikings Way.

Ms Crosby-Deakin, 42, added: “Nowhere is safe anymore. It’s constant down here. They know most businesses are closed and the lights are out, so they feel they can get away with it.

“It’s so low to steal charity money.

“They had the cheek to leave the coppers and take the notes and the bigger change. They are opportunist thieves.”

She said CCTV had captured the crooks on camera, but due to the street lights being out at the time all that could be seen was two figures in hoodies.

Police are inviestigating the burglaries which took place at about 12.30am on Friday.

Anyone with information can call 101.