Local businesses have been warned not to leave cash on the premises overnight following a spate of burglaries in North Somerset.
Thieves are stealing tills, tip jars and even charity collection boxes, according to police.
Officers are investigating overnight burglaries at a number of establishments, including cafes, restaurants and takeaways.
In the past fortnight alone, two premises in Weston-super-Mare were broken into and there was an attempt at a third.
One local restaurant owner, who wished to remain anonymous, said the break-in had made him feel like he could "trust no one".
He said: "They broke the window, cut the phone line and forced entry to my office.
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"They took all the money, including change for the tills and some of the wages for my staff.
"It has had a great impact. I couldn't pay some of my staff on time. As well as the the stolen cash there is the cost of repairs."
He said he'd advise other businesses to make it difficult for thieves by keeping cash in a good quality safe which is bolted to the floor and putting the CCTV hard drive somewhere secure.
The owner added: "I've been here many years and this is the first time it's happened. We're in one of the safest areas."
PC Peter Rooke is one of two officers dedicated to looking into the burglaries.
He said: “These are local businesses and these break-ins have a significant impact. My advice is to review your security arrangements.
"Make sure first floor windows are secure and difficult to access.
"The key thing is to take the time to bank your cash at the end of the day, including any tips, or to put it into a high-specification safe which would take thieves a long time to access."
Anyone who sees anything suspicious is asked to call police straight away. Ring 999 if they’re clearly breaking in, otherwise call 101.
