BURGLARS targeted a Stourport garage after 15ft-high brambles which “protected” the back of the business were cleared off Hartlebury Common.

Autocraft, in Heathfield Road, on Sandy Lane Industrial Estate, was broken into at about 11.35pm last Monday.

Thieves got away with about £300 in a cash box and hand tools worth £600.

Owner Andy Borge, aged 39, said: “On February 15 we had a letter from Worcestershire County Council to say the common was being cleared for cattle grazing and by February 20 they had cut the brambles down.

“We have not had chance to secure the rear of the business.

“The burglary is purely down to the fact that we are so exposed from behind.

“The garage has been here for 30 years and it has never happened while the brambles were there. I honestly believe this wouldn’t have happened if the land hadn’t been cleared.”

Mr Borge sought support from Independent Commun-ity and Health Concern councillor Jim Parish, who said: “If you’ve got intense brambles then that, in itself, is a deterrent to people not to break in but by clearing these away, which seems like the right thing to do, you’re opening the businesses to this kind of intrusion.”

Police crime maps show that in January alone there were six incidents of crime or anti-social behaviour on roads directly off Sandy Lane.

Paul Roberts, works director at neighbouring Conveyor Units, said the company had had to spend thousands of pounds on security after thefts saw the company “haemorrhaging up to a tonne of scrap per day at certain times”. He said: “Our site actually looks like a prison camp. We’ve got 14ft-high galvanised fencing with razor wire all the way around and they still try to get through that. ”

A Worcestershire County Council spokesman said: “The work currently taking place on Hartlebury Common is for phase two of the fencing programme, which has been widely publicised, consulted upon and approved by the secretary of state following a public inquiry.

“As part of this, vegetation has been removed to allow fencing to be erected that will, in future, enclose cattle.”

Police are examining CCTV for evidence.

Anyone with information is asked to call West Mercia Police on 0300 3333000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously and in confidence, on 0800 555111.