A TREE surgeon who has been targeted by criminals and had £70,000 worth of equipment stolen during two burglaries has blasted police for failing to catch the culprits.

Andrew Williams, who owns Tree Services Limited in Woofferton, near Leominster, had 15 chainsaws along with other equipment stolen during the night-time raid on March 26.

Following the burglary he moved other valuable equipment from his storage unit to his parent's house in Lyonshall.

Where it is believed that entry was forced into their shed sometime between 4pm on December 17 and 3pm on December 19.

Thousands of pounds worth of Andrew's tools and power tools were stolen from the property.

Andrew now says police have told him there is no money to investigate his crimes.

"The lack of response from the police is beyond a joke," said Andrew.

"Police are saying that I'm being targeted because where I put the equipment they had to go through a lot of valuable stuff but left that and just took my stuff.

"Now police officers have told me they haven't got the funds or time to investigate my crimes.

"But they have been out to give me security pens to mark my stuff up which I find insulting. They also told me to get in touch with the local neighbourhood watch."

Police state that investigations are currently ongoing into the Lyonshall incident and anybody with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident number 431S of December 19.

Mr Williams said that the police system is all about targets after being pulled over for an alleged driving offence on Dinmore Hill recently.

He added: "Before Christmas I got pulled over at the top of Dinmore Hill and they told me they had gone over a white line.

"They have rushed that through to the courts despite the offence being one word against another.

"I just think that the whole police system is corrupt and bent and I have no time for them.

"They tell me that they haven't got the funds to investigate proper crimes but can pull somebody over on the side of the road.

"It's all about numbers and how many convictions they can get for driving offences and petty crimes."

In response Superintendent Sue Thomas said: “We take all incidents of crime reported to us seriously, and will continue to follow all avenues available to us in order to identify offenders.

“Although we cannot comment on individual cases; it is standard practice for our officers to provide crime prevention advice and offer suggestions as to what can help prevent future crimes while we continue to work to identify offenders.

“We have a responsibility to ensure the law is enforced in order to protect the public from harm and this applies to all types of crime.

“We do our utmost to ensure the highest standards are maintained when investigating incidents of crime. However, if members of the public are unhappy with the service they have received, they are advised to make a formal complaint.

"They should be reassured that these complaints are taken very seriously and each case will be examined to ensure that the appropriate response was provided.”

Details of how to make a complaint can be found at: www.westmercia.police.uk/article/7260/Professional-Standards.