A spate of thefts totalling almost £100,000 in seven months has resulted in Cheshire haulage firm Mike Spence losing a contract and parking three vehicles up. On 2 May, the Warrington-based firm had a truck and two trailers stolen from its yard. Goods taken included beer and toiletries estimated to be worth £80,000.
Prior to this, in November 2008, thieves stole a lorry load of nappies worth £11,000 from the yard, while in the same month another truck was stolen from the Lymm, Cheshire truckstop, including seven pallets of toiletries worth £8,000.
According to MD Mike Spence, on the back of the incidents, the firm lost its contract with wholesaler Rowans of Basildon, which it has been unable to replace. "I can't blame a company for pulling out when so many goods are being stolen, but this has left us having to park up three trucks when we are already at breaking point," he says.
In addition, over the past six months approximately 4,000 litres of diesel has been siphoned from the company's HGVs.
Despite investing in CCTV cameras and sensors for the yard's fences, Spence claims criminals have been able to get around the devices. No offenders have been caught. He adds: "I feel really disappointed in the police because I believe if someone stole £80,000 of goods from a shop they would be all over it, but they have not solved any of our crimes."
