A POLICE chief has urged owners of shops and businesses across the Southend borough to consider beefing up their security following a spate of break-ins.

Det Supt Kevin Baldwin, South local policing area superintendent, has issued the warning after Shane Barnbrook, 32, was charged with carrying out 12 burglaries at businesses across Westcliff, Leigh and Southend.

Barnbrook, of Woodside Close, Grays, is accused of carrying out a spree of break-ins at restaurants, beauty salons and charity shops between May 4 and June 15.

He is charged with raiding Love and Kisses gift shop, in Hamlet Court Road, twice on May 4 and May 12.

He is further accused of targeting Italian restaurant Il Pescatore, in Queens Road, as well as the Southend Hospital charity shop, in Hamlet Court Road on May 21 and June 5.

Other charges included burgling the Project charity shop, in Hamlet Court Road, on June 6, and the Children’s Society charity shop, in Elm Road, on June 10, as well as Chique beauty salon in Rectory Grove, Southend sometime between June 10 and June 13.

Many of the burglaries happened overnight when the shops were closed.

In some instances, the tills were taken or cash from the float was snatched.

Barnbrook faced the charges at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on June 24 and was remanded in custody to appear at Basildon Crown Court on July 24.

Mr Baldwin said: “Never leave money or any very valuable items in the shops overnight.

“It is important to review your security arrangements and to make sure that locks are sufficiently robust.

“Shopkeepers are advised to check that windows and doors are sufficiently strong enough to prevent anybody tampering with them as that is a burglars first port of call.”

Anyone with information about burglaries at businesses in Southend or further afield can call Essex Police on 101 or independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Alternatively you should pass on details by visiting crimestoppers-uk.org to complete an online form.