An investigation has been launched after more than £100,000 worth of materials and components were stolen from a Washington manufacturing company.
RDS Precision Engineering Ltd on Hertburn Industrial Estate was targeted by burglars overnight between Sunday, July 2 and Monday, July 3.
High-value materials, components and tools are among the items stolen by a number of offenders during the incident which has gutted firm boss Rob Bone.
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Rob, who has run RDS Precision Engineering Ltd for around 30 years and employs 30 staff, said it is the second time in recent months that a manufacturing firm on the industrial estate has been targeted in this way.
"This is the second time it has happened in the Washington area," he said.
"There have been two burglaries in the Washington area from industrial factories and we lost in excess of £100,000.
"When we came into work the place was upside down. If our insurance company doesn't pay up we could end up going under.
"We are small companies in the Washington area who can't afford this. The materials alone that we lost were more than £100,000 - never mind the labour and tools on top.
"I want to highlight to people what is going on. It is not an isolated thing. "
Northumbria Police confirmed that officers had also received a report of a burglary at a neighbouring business in May and said they were investigating. In both instances, a number of offenders have forced entry into each premises before stealing tools, high-value machinery and materials from inside.
"They broke in about 10.30pm on Sunday night and in the space of two or three hours, they came and went," Rob continued.
"They have taken all high-value materials and they have ransacked all the toolboxes.
"We had parts finished and ready to be delivered to customers all taken just for scrap value so they are going to have to be replaced over the next month. It is crippling."
Officers are now urging anyone with information that could help the appeal to come forward.
A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “We are aware of two reports of burglary in Hertburn Industrial Estate, Washington, between May 15 and July 3. It was reported that in both instances, a number of offenders have forced entry into each premises – before removing tools and high-value machinery and materials from inside.
“Enquires into both incidents are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact us via 101, or the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website, quoting NP-20230703-0158.”
