A CAFE owner whose business has been repeatedly targeted by vandals and thieves is trying to “stay as upbeat as possible” despite criminals “running riot in our town”.

Elaine Jiggins, who runs Caffe Sala, in Eld Lane, Colchester, is counting the cost of another break-in after thieves smashed their way through the front door.

Once inside, they caused damage to the cafe and made off with the staff tip jars.

The raid, which took place overnight on Thursday, is another headache for the weary owner, who has dealt with numerous cases of vandalism and theft over the past year.

She said: “I have lost count now. I am trying to stay as upbeat as possible.

“It is just not fair on my staff.

“It is a big problem in the town that needs addressing, but it isn’t just localised, it is a problem on a national level.”

Mrs Jiggins is struggling to muster the motivation to report the incident to the police, as she fears a lack of resources means nothing will be done.

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Independent businesses in Eld Lane repeatedly suffered the impact of petty vandalism and theft during the summer, voicing fears over the quality of CCTV coverage and lighting in the street.

Several business owners say they feel “forgotten about and overlooked”.

Mrs Jiggins added: “Simply it is about the lack of police presence.

“I have watched this town absolutely deteriorate because of a lack of funding.

“I am just at the point where I can’t invest my energy into being upset and feeling like a victim. This is the second time in about three months where we have had break-ins, pretty much exactly the same.

“Each time it costs around £100 for us to install a new pane of glass.

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“They get the tips and create a lot of damage.”

She added: “I think the police do a fantastic job, but they have too much on their plates. When it gets as far as the Crown Prosecution Service, we are told there is not evidence. People are running riot in the town.”

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101.