Security tightened at factory

SECURITY is being stepped up at a factory where thieves have escaped with more than £3,000 worth of goods in six separate raids over a period of just a few weeks.

Since January raiders have stolen mobile telephones, a computer, a pressure cleaner and more than £1,000 worth of diesel from Industrial Water Jetting Systems Limited, at Old Stowmarket Road, Woolpit. The break-ins have also caused several hundred pounds worth of damage.

Bosses at the firm and Suffolk police have now joined forces to introduce stringent new security measures to combat the thieves who first struck in January.

On January 15, the thieves cut through a chain link fence before wrenching a padlock from a fuel pump and removing £100 worth of diesel.

Overnight between January 18 and 19, thieves returned to the premises and gained entry to a compound by climbing over a fence. During the raid a £200 video recorder was taken and lights were smashed on two transit vans.

A day later the culprits cut another hole in a fence and siphoned £480 worth of fuel from vehicles. On February 4, the thieves cut yet another hole in a fence and stole £850 of diesel from a fuel tank.

On February 21, a £1,000 pressure washer was taken from a shed within the factory grounds and on March 3, two mobile telephones worth £200 and a laptop computer, valued at £1,000 were taken when thieves entered factory offices.

Bosses at the factory have declined to comment but a Suffolk police spokesman said: "We are aware of the situation in the area and we are taking steps to alleviate them.

"We have been in constant contact with the organisation involved and we have been working together with a view of eradicating the problems. We have provided substantial security advice, equipment and have increased patrols in the area."

Anyone with any information about the thefts should telephone Pc James McNee at Suffolk police on 01284 774100.