Raiders smash up arcade machines

7:01am Tuesday 15th April 2008

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MORE than £35,000 damage was caused at an amusement arcade after a thief broke in and smashed open slot machines and stole cash.

The crook forced open the shutters of the Fantasia Amusement Park, in Eastern Esplanade, Southend, just after 4am on Saturday.

After climbing through the shutter and opening a side window to get into the arcade, the thief spent about 15 minutes trashing four slot machines in the over-18's area, using an unknown weapon.

After triggering the alarm, the burglar escaped with £3,400 worth of loose change and damaged the machines, worth £7,000 each, beyond repair.

Graham Rawlinson, director of GJR Leisure limited, which owns the arcade, said: "In 30 years of working the seafront I've never had any problems, let alone a break-in."