VICTIMS of crime in Southend have reacted to the rise in crime.

Tony Probert, 61, who runs Probert Motors, in London Road, Westcliff, was hit over the head with a hammer when he fought off two men in ski masks who demanded cash as he was locking up the business in September.

He managed to kick out at one of the men, struggle to his feet and punch him – the pair then fled empty handed.

He said: “I’ve been here since 1986 and there wasn’t really crime for 20 years. There has definitely been an increase recently.

“Things are getting worse. You hear about it in the motor trade as well other places being broken into. We’ve just installed CCTV.”

Brave Connor Clifford, 19, gave chase to a mugger who had attacked a 73-year-old woman near his home, in Lonsdale Road, Southend, in August.

He managed to retrieve her handbag, but the crook got away.

He said: “I’ve definitely heard more about crime in the last year – it does seem to be getting worse.”

But others claim Southend’s not as bad as it’s being potrayed.

Martin Richardson is owner of Happidrome Arcade, in Marine Parade, where a man tried to break in to a lock-up in September.

The thug then set a bin on fire before running away. Mr Richardson said: “I’ve only moved into the area about nine months ago from Charfleets, Canvey. The trouble then was the only time I’ve had any sort of problem in the area. I think crime is up everywhere, really. I don’t know if it’s worse here than anywhere else.

“The justice system should make big examples of criminals.

The police do a great job and work very hard, but the courts need to give people big sentences that make people go, ‘wow, I’m not going to commit crime anymore’.”

Stephen Holmes, 45, was left for dead by a gang of thugs in Shoebury on Saturday night after asking them to stop making noise and smoking drugs near his flat in Falcon Way.

He said: “People need to stand up to thugs, the police can’t be everywhere at once.”