Turf firm hit twice in two weeks in £200,000 raids

The break-ins were the latest in a string of more than 20 hits in the past five years at turf equipment manufacturers Hallmarket in Coven, Wolverhampton.

Crooks broke in to the premises in the early hours of Wednesday, stealing 10 heavy-duty batteries, diesel, a cement mixer and other equipment. It followed a raid on December 16 when a Scania lorry, forklift, JCB load-all, jet washers, two tool chests and the keys to three other 32-ton trucks were snatched.

Owner Robin Winwood said he felt like a 'sitting duck', helpless to stop repeated break-ins by organised criminal gangs despite reporting the burglaries to police.

Mr Winwood himself tracked down the new Scania truck to an industrial estate in Bridgtown, Cannock, after asking the manufacturers to activate a tracker device.

The company, which employs 14 people, uses the farm machinery on a 250-acre site at Pendeford Hall Farm to cultivate turf for a range of businesses.

In the December 16 raid, the thieves struck just before 5.30am, ramming the roller-shutter entrance to gain access.

Mr Winwood discovered the most recent break-in when he arrived at the firm just before 4am on Tuesday to find the farm gates open, diesel caps discarded and the padlock on a shed broken.

"Ten batteries were taken – with all the leads chopped off with bolt croppers, which causes us even more problems.

"We've employed 24-hour security since the last raid but the nightwatchman didn't spot them. They drained the fuel from three lorries outside and broke into the site taking three trackers, irrigation pumps and other machinery. We're still finding things missing."

He estimated £30,000 of fuel has been stolen in the past five years.

"We've had a lot of diesel and expensive machinery and tools taken over the years, which is very disheartening.

"On this occasion we have got our lorry back but that was down to our own detective work. We estimate £200,000 worth of other machinery and equipment was stolen.

"We're plagued with yobs on these stupid bikes without licence plates – I have had an incident where a yob threw a brick at my screen on my van.

"I've had to hire a security guard to be here now which is another person to go on the wage book. It's just a nightmare to be honest – we just feel vulnerable. I feel like a sitting duck.

"The effect has been that we've lost production because of the amount of machinery we've lost. We've also been held up because of the time it takes to repair all the damage that is done every time there is a break-in.

"There is also a psychological effect on staff. I'm frightened to leave the place in the evening for what I will find the next morning."

After he notified police on tracking down the Scania lorry, Mr Winwood said that officers had the vehicle recovered for a forensics team to investigate but he had to pay £350 to get it back from the towing company.

He added: "The police have been called out many times to our company but with no results – we have just had to do what we can and manage the best way we can.It's very frustrating."

The firm is now in the process of installing £15,000 worth of CCTV cameras to protect the site.