A DEVASTATED business owner was left to deal with thousands of pounds of damage after thieves carried out a smash and grab raid on his shop.

Crooks targeted Dunninghams Tool Hire, in Jubilee End, Lawford, using power tools to cut through the steel shutters protecting the shop front.

Doug Pratt has owned the business for three years, but he has never suffered such a serious theft.

He said: “They cut through the steel shutter and smashed through the front of the shop with some kind of equipment to gain entry.

“They then took a petrol disc cutter worth £650.

They had a wander around the shop and tried to remove other equipment.

“They went into the back of the shop where the hired equipment is stored, stealing a petrol disc cutter worth about half the cost of the first.”

Mr Pratt, of Harwich, said he was aware there had previously been a spate of burglaries in the nearby High Street.

He added: “Because of the business I am in I have been expecting something like this, so we have security – now I’m wondering whether it is enough.

“You can see it just depends on how determined these guys are on getting in – which they clearly were.

“They can’t have been there long, so I think someone must have been in the shop beforehand casing the place.

“I am obviously very annoyed and angry about this, I’m just trying to make a living, after all.

“The total cost will be between £4,000 and £5,000.

“I will be taking additional measures now with security.

“Everybody on the estate has been very supportive, obviously they have raised concerns over their own security now.”

Anyone with information about the incident, which happened after 11.30pm last Thursday, should contact Essex Police on 101.