By Jenny Barwise

Last updated at 14:32, Tuesday, 03 March 2009

Thieves crept through a hole in a fence at a Whitehaven business park and stole a safe full of cash – the night before it was due to be banked.

They ransacked the office of Alwell Glass & Glazing Ltd, on Sneakyeat Industrial Estate in Hensingham, and removed the safe which was bolted to the wall.

It contained around £1,500 which was due to be banked the next day.

Business owner Allan Mossop said he feared the thieves may have been watching the business and had crawled through a hole in the fence.

It was cut with wire clippers around six weeks ago and never repaired.

Mr Mossop said: “I suspect whoever did it came in through that gap in the fence.

“They broke the office window, which is adjacent to the road, and levered the safe away from the wall and it was bolted into the wall. They disorganised the office and took the safe.”

Mr Mossop said that he takes the businesses’ takings to the bank on a set day and he is suspicious that the thieves were aware of this.

He has now called a meeting with the site manager to call for extra security measures on the industrial estate.

All they stole was the safe and the cash, although they had ransacked the office, pulling out drawers but leaving the contents including electronic calculators.

The business office manager discovered the damage when she went to open up at 8.30am on Friday.

Mr Mossop arrived at work a few minutes later and contacted the police.

Mr Mossop said: “I feel angry that it was so easy for them to do. I am disappointed at the way things are going here.

“Last night when I was thinking about it I remembered there has been a small car parked up by the fence a few times. They might have been looking for what is going on – or just someone walking their dog.”

Any witnesses, or anyone with information, are asked to contact police on 0845 3300 247.

First published at 11:32, Tuesday, 03 March 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk