A BURGER van owner has been left angry after thieves smashed their way into his vehicle before stealing £1,000 in cash and goods.

The van was targeted by crooks outside his home in Abbots Close, Wix, last week.

Ray Partridge, who run Ray Ray’s Burger Bar near Cost Coffee at the Gateway Retail Park in Parkeston, labelled the crooks as “despicable”.

He said: “I parked it up as I usually do and when I went out the next morning I found the lock had been smashed off.

“My iPad 3, a cash tin and a couple of savings tins I have for my holidays were taken.

“They also stole a Bosch cordless drill, which must have cost £100.

“Fortunately they didn’t damage anything for the business that was inside the van.

“I had to replace the locks on the van and, but it was repaired quickly and I didn’t lose too much trade.”

Mr Partridge said it believed the crooks responsible may have used a white transit-style van.

“I have run the business for 13 years and it’s not the first time we have been targeted by thieves,” he added.

“I got this van in September, but when I had the previous van they prized open the shutter.”

The latest incident happened between 10pm on March 29 and 6.15am on March 30.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at Harwich on 101.