A crime-riddled industrial estate made the target of a police crackdown has seen three lorries worth £60,000 stolen in the same night.

Officers in Pitsea launched the Industrial Watch on the troubled Burnt Mills industrial estate in the town after a spate of burglaries and thefts.

Details of crimes are now faxed out to all those companies on the estate to make them aware of individual problems.

The latest attack has seen the lorries broken into and stolen from the estate leaving a bill of £60,000.

Insp Glenn Caton, of Pitsea police, today urgently warned other companies on Burnt Mills to ensure their property is secured.

He said: "We are making the companies under the Industrial Watch scheme aware of what has happened and advising them appropriately. All companies should make sure their vehicles are locked and that all access to their yards are secured.

"This is exactly why the Industrial Watch was set up. This would seem to be an isolated incident on the estate but people should still do everything they can to protect their property.

"We would urge anyone who knows any information about these thefts to contact the police."

All the vehicles stolen in the swoop were parked in yards in Harvey Road, Burnt Mills, when they were stolen over night.

A yellow Layland Hiab HGV, registration J817 HOW, with JD Vaughan written on the side was taken between 6.50pm on Thursday, March 23, and 6.20am on Friday, March 24.

The HGV was worth £30,000.

Two grey Ford Cargo lorries, with Connelly written on the side, were taken during the same period of time.

Both lorries were loaded with bus shelters, adding up to a £30,000 loss to the company.

The registrations of these lorries were J110 GGC and J452 UNY.

Contact Pitsea police with any information about these thefts on 01268 584212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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