The director of one of Croydon’s biggest businesses has claimed a trio of break-ins which cost the company thousands are not being prioritised by the police.

Max Menon has been forced to up security at the iconic Allders store in North End after three early morning raids on the perfume section netted crooks £15,000.

The finance director said an officer on the scene told him the raids were not a priority despite the store being repeatedly targeted.

He said: “It’s really frustrating - some police made a comment to me that we weren’t a priority, but a crime is a crime.

“It’s a hypothetical situation, but if crime started affecting us so badly we closed that’s close to 1,000 less jobs in Croydon.

“It’ been £15,000 of stuff so far. The last break-in the guy obviously panicked and dropped the loot so we have managed to recover it.

“But previously it’s been £5,000 each time we’ve lost plus the damage, and the cost of putting in extra protection.

“It’s happening in the worst of times, as we’re all struggling through this recession.”

A police spokeswoman confirmed the store had been burgled on July 20 and a 49-year-old man had been arrested, although he was released without charge on CPS advice.

The police are not linking two other burglaries on August 9 and September 16 to the earlier raid.

The spokeswoman said: “Allders has been visited by officers from the local safer neighbourhoods team and staff have been given crime prevention advice.”

No further arrests have been made in connection with any of the crimes.

Anyone with information can contact Croydon police on 0300 123 1212, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.