A garage owner has put a £1,000 bounty on the heads of thieves who keep raiding his car wash pumps.

Dave Thorns, 46, has stumped up the reward money because he doesn't believe the police will catch whoever is responsible.

Over the last three weeks, he says, eight attacks have been carried out on the pumps which sit outside his Ladyroyd Garage in Thornton Road. Crow bars are used to prise open the cash boxes.

The night-time or early morning raids have caused £3,000 worth of damage according to Mr Thorns and he estimates they have cost him a further £2,000 in lost revenue while the damage is being repaired. Despite reporting three of the crimes, he says the police have told him they don't have the resources to patrol the area.

Mr Thorns, who also owns the Fatty Arbuckles restaurant in the city centre, said: "I don't think I've been targeted for any other reason than it's easy pickings. The thieves obviously know that the police aren't checking the place out so they just keep on doing it.

"We've got CCTV but they just smash the cameras before they start. I've put the reward up for anybody who comes forward with evidence which leads to the prosecution and conviction of the culprits.

"Nobody can afford to lose £1,000-a-week in takings.''

Inspector Andy Williams, of Toller Lane Police, confirmed he had had three separate reports of raids on the garage but he denied police weren't patrolling the area.

He said: "We do check the place out regularly and our officers have all been made aware of the issue at their briefings. We have to allocate our resources according to need and prioritise the jobs that come in."

Insp Williams said a crime prevention officer was liaising with Mr Thorns to try to work out ways of making the site more secure.

The inspector said one way might be to convert the cash-operated machines to take tokens.

Anyone with information should call 0845 6060606 and ask for Toller Lane Police Station.

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