ANGRY company boss Peter Bowler is offering a £1,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of thieves who he says are crippling his business.

ANGRY company boss Peter Bowler is offering a £1,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of thieves who he says are crippling his business.

Mr Bowler, who runs Southern Heating and Ventilation Services, Furlong Road, Bourne End, says he cannot see any other way to end his plight. He says the police seem to be powerless.

Thieves have stolen more than £10,000 worth of equipment from Mr Bowler's company vans in a spate of five break-ins over the last 12 months.

And after the most recent break-in on West End Road, High Wycombe, last Thursday Mr Bowler says car-crime in the area has reached fever point.

He said: 'It's absolutely ridiculous. If you are in a trade where you rely on your vehicles and tools then this problem has reached an epidemic stage. If you get your tools taken away, what do you do?'

Mr Bowler is also angry because he feels the police response has been is inadequate: 'If you call them they won't come out to you. You are told to come into the police station in the morning to fill out a crime report.

A spokeswoman for Thames Valley Police, said: 'We are sorry Mr Bowler was disappointed with the response he received. One of our crime reduction officers will be contacting him.'

A crackdown on car crime in the area is to be launched later this month.

Call Thames Valley Police on (01494) 465888 or reporter James Cox on (01494) 755086