Firm’s despairover break-ins

Now bosses at Hutchinson Demolitions are considering the future in the wake of the break-in at its Ravensthorpe site.

Managing director Jonathan Hutchinson even thought about relocating or closing down after nearly 50 years in the town.

“But it’s not that easy to find premises,” he said. “And we have been here since the early 1960s. But we are sick of being the constant victims of crime.”

Thieves broke into Hutchinson’s last Wednesday night, got into a lorry, trashed the dashboard to hot-wire it, smashed through the yard’s gates and then more gates onto Calder Road.

The vehicle was later recovered in Arksey, near Doncaster. Repairs to the cab could cost at least £5,000.

“These haven’t been minor break-ins,” said Mr Hutchinson. “It is hard enough being in business in this economic climate without having to keep paying out for repairs and escalating insurance policies.”

The business was started by Trevor Hutchinson when he was just 21. Now 73, he still plays an active part in the company. “In two years we have had nearly £500,000 of stuff taken. It just gets worse and worse,” he said.

Hutchinson’s has invested heavily in security. The site is fully fenced, topped with razor wire, there is CCTV and two sets of gates. “What more can we do?” said Jonathan Hutchinson. “I feel like packing in. It is so disheartening. But we employ 30 people and the pressure is enormous.”

Police are investigating.