A BUSINESSMAN is offering a reward of £1,000 for any information leading to an arrest of the burglar who entered his engineering yard.

A raider broke into General Engineering Treatments (G.E.T) Ltd in the early hours on Saturday morning.

It is understood the thief smashed a window in order to access the site.

The business owner is now appealing for anyone with information to come forward including anyone who may have been acting suspiciously around the Vanguard Way area, in Shoebury.

The man posted on Facebook: “If anyone has seen someone around the Vanguard Way area behaving suspiciously, please could you contact me and anyone with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of this scum will receive a £1,000 reward.”

When asked about the impact of these crimes on local businesses, Southend councillor Mark Flewitt, said: “It is tough on local businesses when burglaries occur, whether attempted or successful.

“The fire, police and crime commissioner, Roger Hirst’s efforts in his budget to deploy 215 more police officers is great news.

“Meanwhile it is difficult for those whose businesses are disabled because of these people, and there has been a peak in crimes like these but there is better news on the horizon.

“It can be traumatic for people who are victim to this sort of thing, especially residential burglaries.

“To have your belongings or things you use for your business taken is just unacceptable. To know that someone has been in your private space is awful.

“Again, better news is on the horizon, with the approved budget and without a doubt it will help to make a difference.

“It won’t happen straight away but it will most certainly help.

“I don’t know why people are doing this and it is the politicians and the police that get blamed rather than the perpetrators themselves. Not enough people blame the perpetrators or they will say they had a bad upbringing. Well lots of people have had a bad upbringing and don’t go around burgling places.We’ve got to blame the right people.”

A spokesman for Essex Police, said: “We are investigating a burglary at a business in Vanguard Way, Shoebury, overnight on Saturday.

“We received a report that suspects had gained entry by smashing a window and have searched inside.We are trying to establish whether anything has been taken.

“Anyone with information is asked to call Southend police station on 101 quoting crime reference 42/14437/19.”