A DENGIE businessman has hit out at “disgusting” crooks after his vineyard was targeted for a third time.

Clayhill Vineyard, in Lower Burnham Road, Latchingdon, was hit by burglars in the early hours of last Wednesday morning.

Thieves broke into the onsite café, smashing a window and then trashing the place.

They only got away with a tablet and two power tools.

The latest break in comes just over a year after owner Dale Symons stopped wannabe burglars targeting the site.

Mr Symons was alerted to Wednesday’s burglary after receiving a warning on his phone when the alarms were triggered.

He said: “I shot down to the café in five minutes.

“When I got there, I saw that the lights were disabled. They had smashed a window then they went down to the cellar to see what they could find.

“They were looking for money but we take everything away every day.

“They were rummaging through boxes to see if they could find other things to take.

“The tablet they stole is the one we use to place orders in the café which is a pain.

“It is just disgusting. My motto is ‘Don’t do to others that you would not wish done to you’.

“The frustration is that nothing seems to be changing. This is our third burglary in the last two years.”

Mr Symons said many farmers felt rural crime was getting worse and called for a better police presence.

“We all understand that police have had their budgets cut and are being concentrated more in urban areas,” he added.

“But it feels that the rural areas are being abandoned.

“I think that something like this does make people more suspicious.

“As a farmer I hate being like that.

“It is awful and I don’t like to be made to feel like that but you can see other farmers in the area being suspicious of anyone who comes by.

“Cameras are no deterrent and all you can do is watch as they steal your things.

“It’s frustrating and annoying. The insurance premium will go up and you just have to take it on the chin.

“It is all very personal to me and my family. This place is like our baby.”

An Essex Police spokesman confirmed enquiries into the burglary were ongoing.

He said: “We received reports of criminal damage to a café in Lower Burnham Road, Latchingdon, at around 1.50am on Wednesday, October 10.

“We received information that the window was smashed.

“Enquiries are ongoing.”