Family firm is hit by raiders

Sep 19 2007 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

A TYNESIDE family was yesterday coming to terms with a break-in at their business, which left an estimated £200,000 of equipment damaged.

Skip hire firm, Enviro Quest, based on White Street, Walker, Newcastle, was set up by Michael Ingham a year ago.

And yesterday they were barely able to continue operating after intruders stole a JCB digger and smashed up other equipment at the weekend.

Although the extent of the damage is still being assessed, it is thought the cost could be in the region of £200,000. Mr Ingham said: “I discovered it on Monday and I was in shock. “There was a JCB stolen and a massive amount of damage. Everything had been smashed up.

“We are still trading but only just. Three of our wagons were badly damaged so we only have one which we can still use. We are just managing to keep going but it’s a stretch.”

The break-in is thought to have happened between Saturday September 15 and 7.30am on Monday September 17.

The digger taken was described as a case backhoe loader with the registration number V489EFT. Mr Ingham said: “It’s just going to take time to get back to normal. I just feel really angry about all of it.

“It’s a family run business and my wife and son are involved. We are all devastated, absolutely gutted, but you just have to get on with it.

“The business has only been going for 12 months but you have to remain positive.”

There was another break-in at the same site two weeks ago. On that occasion damage was confined to the office.

Mr Ingham said: “The office was completely ransacked. Hopefully we will never have to deal with anything like this again.”

Detective Sergeant Ray Hunt said: “We are trying to establish whether the digger was driven away or put on a truck and I would ask anyone who saw it being moved at the weekend to contact us.” Anyone with information can contact Byker CID on 08456 043 043 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.