BUSINESS owners are being urged to secure their premises following a spate of break-ins at Kendal industrial estates.

Cumbria Constabulary is increasing patrols in the town and officers are urging tradespeople to be aware of the 'importance of security' after a thief or thieves have targeted eight premises since the beginning of September.

Inspector Paul Latham said: “We have stepped up patrols in the affected areas but we encourage business owners to take responsibility for security of their premises.

“We also appeal to the communities to help prevent crime and bring offenders to justice. Businesses need to work together and if they see anyone suspicious, they should report it to the police.”

Business parks targeted include:

* Parkside Business Park, Parkside Road, between 8pm on September 16 and 6am the following day. Offenders have entered the unit via a side door leading to offices, before stealing a laptop case, two chargers, two drills and screwdrivers.

* Mintsfeet Place, Mintsfeet Road, at 7.15pm on September 15. This was an attempted burglary, and although there was damaged caused, nothing was stolen.

* Dockray Hall Industrial Estate, between 9.30 and 10.30am on September 14. A Sony Viao laptop, Samsung mobile phones and misc cards were stolen.

* Lake District Business Park, Mint Bridge Road, between 3.30pm on September 13 and 5.45am the following day. Two 'Gopro' head torch camorders were stolen.

* Mintsfeet Road, between 6pm on September 10 and 7.40am on September 11. Three laptops, two mobile phones, a projector, a video conference TV/webcam, a hedge trimmer and two sets of vehicle keys.

* Dockray Hall Industrial Estate, between 5.30pm on September 9 and 7am and September 10. This was an attempted burglary, where damaged was caused but nothing was stolen.

* Parkside Business Park, Parkside Road, between 11.23pm on September 9 and 1pm the following day. A laptop and a MAC PRO were stolen.

* The Lake District Business Park, Mint Bridge Road, between 6.20am on September 4 and 7.50am on September 5. Cash and an Olympus camera were stolen.

Crime Prevention Officer, Terry Belshaw, said: “It is important for business owners to work with us to increase their security.

"By improving simple things like the sturdiness of doors and windows and making sure they are locked each night, we can reduce the opportunity for thieves.

“Some of these buildings were not designed with security in mind and therefore it is important for those businesses to ensure they have adequate security."