BURGLARS have targeted a residential care home in Southend.

They broke into Victoria Court Rest Home in York Road and stole two handbags, believed to have £5 each inside.

They also raided a refrigerator from an outside building, taking a quantity of frozen meat with them.

It is believed the thieves jumped over a fence to get inside the property. Residents in the care home were not harmed.

Derek Kenyon, Independent councillor representing Southchurch, said he was absolutely disgusted.

He said: “I’ve worked in Southend Council for many years and this is the first time I’ve heard people stealing from a care home. It’s just low, and it can’t get any lower than this. It’s despicable.

“York Road is a particularly rough area, a lot of unsavoury characters congregate here. The council has worked with Essex Police to make the place safer. You will have a period where there’ll be a spike in crime, and then nothing happens.

“I urge the care home to up its security, improve its locks and have staff patrolling the home. I encourage the managers of the care home to talk to police to seek recommendations on how to make the home safer.”

Sam Sharma, 42, manager of nearby Maranatha Residential Home, in York Road, said: “I’m very sorry this happened to that care home. I’ve been working here as a manager for the last six years and this has never happened to the care homes here. It’s just a very low act by the thieves.

“Because of what happened I will inform staff and to make sure our home’s security is safe.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Police want to speak to these three men over a burglary at a care home.

“Two handbags and food items were stolen from a premises in York Road, Southend, on September 16.

“Three men entered the care home shortly after 2am and then left the scene.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Matthew Stannard at Southend police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.