A BUSINESSMAN who had £15,000 worth of equipment burgled from his shop is offering a £5,000 reward for information leading to prosecution.

Steve Coombes, owner of The Grow Room in Brougham Road, Worthing, was shocked to see his hydroponic shop had been raided when he went to open up on Monday morning.

On entering he discovered a large haul of plant growing equipment had been taken.

Mr Coombes, 50, from Worthing, said his neighbours saw the thief outside. They confronted the person as they were taking equipment out of the shop door.

He said: “This has really damaged my business. It is tough enough running a small shop by myself anyway.

“I am now maxed out on my credit card and my overdraft. If it wasn’t for my credit cards right now I would be completely bankrupt.

“It has probably been taken for them just to resell rather than use to grow as there was such a mixture of items taken.

“When I went in to the shop in the morning I realised the back gate was open which seemed strange.

“They had cut their way through some mesh to be able to climb down a drain pipe and smash their way in to the shop.

“Both sets of neighbours above heard it happening and one came out to challenge the person standing by the shop door, before they made their escape.”

A number of different items were taken from the shop, including specialist equipment, LED lighting, a number of high pressure steam bulbs, switcher ends, lamps and several other pieces of kit.

Sussex Police officers visited the shop on Monday morning to investigate the scene and take fingerprint samples.

He said: “I seriously want the person caught now. A couple of people I know have thrown names around of who it might be.

“If it is the person suggested to me then I know he has targeted a couple of other grow shops too.

“I am more than willing to give a £5,000 reward to someone if information they have leads to prosecution.

“It is just not right that hard working people have their property and businesses treated this way.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “We are investigating a burglary at a shop in Worthing.

“The owner of the shop in Brougham Road discovered the break in on Monday morning having left the property secure at 4pm on Saturday.”

Anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area or who has any information about the incident is asked to report it online at sussex.police.uk/appealresponse or call 101 quoting serial 262 of 16/10.