Boss appalled over police inefficiency (From Gazette Series)

Boss appalled over police inefficiency

VANDALS who went on a manic wrecking spree at a Dursley factory this week could have been caught if the police had acted more efficiently, the factory boss has claimed.

Steve Price, managing director at Aksa International (UK) Ltd, alleges that police officers who attended the site on Monday after the alarms had been activated by intruders found the gates locked but failed to contact him to have them opened. He also alleges that when officers asked their superiors what action they should take they were told to stand down from the incident.

"I think the fact that they were at the gates and came no further is absolutely appalling," Mr Price told the Gazette this week. Monday's attack was the third time the company has been targeted since June.

Mr Price said: "The alarm went off at 4.55pm and the police were at the gates by 5.15pm. I am a key holder to the gates and I live close by. The police have all my information and can get hold of me at any time. The officers who responded called their headquarters and they were told to stand down.

"Offenders got into the building through a fire door. They walked through the building at the back of the offices and went into an open office and up into the ceiling.

"They dropped into our sales office and went up through the ceiling again and dropped into the accounts office. They went into the ceiling again and dropped down before smashing into my office. They then ripped my fridge out and used it smash a window to escape.

He continued: "It is just wanton vandalism. They came through like a hurricane from one end to the other. They are crazed people - this is a real attack. It is terrifically violent.

"We will be able to tidy up but it is incredible what they have done. I can't understand the mentality of it. It upsets me terribly and makes you think what people are like.

"I would love for the police to catch who did this but I don't think there is any chance of that."

The company, which is based on the Lister Petter Industrial Estate and employs seven people, imports generators from Turkey for modification before selling them on.

The premises were first targeted on June 5 followed by another incident on July 8.

Mr Price said the attacks started after employees found a den in an out building, which they closed off.

"About a week before the first incident we found a den in one of the lock ups," he said.

"We closed it off and then the incidents started. We hadn't had problems before. All we have had is skateboarders and mountain bikers using our pallets to do tricks.

"The first time it happened they pinched things - we lost a lot of money in dollars and Euros and the second time they stole an LCD screen and a computer.

"This time around there is £5,000 worth of damage. The worst thing is business interruption. Everyday is important to a small business and we need to be working effectively from the time we get in."

Mr Price was so upset by the lack of police action he has lodged an official complaint.

"I think if the police had come on to the site the people who did the damage would have still been here and could have been caught," he said. Police spokesman Matt Ford said: "We have received a complaint and we will be investigating it."