MINDLESS yobs smashed a shop window during an attempted raid.

The gang targeted Shoo Box, in High Street, Canvey during the incident.

Shop workers have now revealed they regularly feel intimated by antisocial youths gathering outside their business.

Michelle Thorne, 48, said: “I came into work on the Wednesday and saw the glass everywhere.

“We have a car park behind our business and there was lots of smashed glass.

“We think they used glass bottles and threw them at our windows and one went straight through.”

She added: “We do often have gangs gathering outside the back of the shop.

“It is very intimidating when we are closing up and especially when it’s dark.

“We do not know how much it will be costing us to fix the window but we have boarded it up.

“It is just mindless and costs us money to fix and time to clean it up.”

She admitted the team is now nervous about the yobs returning when the shop is open.

Ms Thorne added: “Customers have been coming in and asking about what has happened here.”

She said it may be just a few youths who are bored as it is the school holidays.

Ms Thorne said independent traders, such as the island shop, are hit really hard after such incidents.

She said businesses have it hard as it is and this makes it worse.

The shop worker said: “Thankfully it has not affected our trade.

“We have been here about a year and half and specialise in women’s clothes, fashion and shoes.

“I don’t want to tar all youngsters with the same brush but it does seem some ruin it for the rest of us.”

She added: “I was young once but didn’t do anything like this.”

The business took to social media appealing for witnesses, posting images of the broken windows on their Facebook page.

The post read: “Anyone see anything?

“It happened between 5.30pm and 8am.

“CCTV is being checked, thanks in advance.”

It happened on April 10, call 101 with information.