Crime on an Oswestry industrial estate has been slashed after fed-up business bosses stepped up security.The Mile Oak Industrial Estate has been targeted by thieves and vandals for years, causing tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage.

But bosses say the problem escalated in recent years, leading them to now employ their own security guard to crack down on the trouble. And today they said the move had been a success, with crime slashed since they took matters into their own hands.

They are now appealing to other businesses to join the security guard scheme to spread the costs of the initiative, which was introduced last month.

Mark Holdsworth, from McDonald Landrover on the estate, said £150,000 damage was caused when thieves stole vehicles and damaged others at the business.

He said: “I would say that every single business on Mile Oak has been targeted systematically by the thieves.

“Everyone was suffering and we decided that enough was enough.”

He said some premises did have CCTV installed and the police mobile CCTV camera had been brought in, but this was not the answer.

“The thieves that broke in here, we had CCTV but they just wore balaclavas.

“They even waved at the cameras as they drove off with three of the vehicles leaving others damaged behind them.

“As well as the thefts themselves it is the time spent sorting everything out and the nuisance that these people cause.

“We were insured – and the insurance was great – but it took three months to sort out.”

Now 21 of the 27 businesses on the estate pay just over £20 a week to hire an evening security guard through the security firm H&G.

Mr Holdsworth said: “The crime literally seemed to disappear overnight.

“It has also had the added bonus of ridding the estate of the boy racers who used to use the roads at night.

“With them gone, there is not the litter and fast food wrappers that there used to be.

“I just wish more people would sign up to the scheme and then it would be cheaper for everyone concerned.”

He said the security also gave peace of mind to those who had employees working late.

By Sue Austin