Burglars ignored thousands of pounds worth of computers and made off with 12 tonnes of dog food during a raid on a Black Country firm.

The crooks stole the haul of fish-based canine snacks from Fish4dogs, in Cradley.

Bemused bosses at the company on the Saltbrook Trading Estate have been left scratching their heads following the break-in but say they have beefed up security to prevent any repeat.

Marketing director Jill Angell said the damage caused at the premises suggested the thieves had come prepared.

“They managed to smash the roller shutters off somehow,” she said.

“But it seems they totally ignored all the other contents of the office and factory – and just stole the dog food. It’s unbelievable really.

“The things you would expect them to have taken have been left here.” She said the Finest Fish Complete Dog Food, which was all packed up in distinctive blue 12 kilo sacks labelled either Salmon Complete, or Fish Complete, was taken in the early hours of February 2. 

“They must have bought their own forklift truck to do it, because our one hadn’t been used and it would have taken days to load it up by hand,” she said.

The theft comes just weeks after residents living near the site breathed a sigh of relief when Fish4dogs announced it would no longer be carrying out a fish cooking process at its plant, which had prompted hundreds of complaints about a foul stench. Mrs Angell remained tight-lipped as to where the new cooking plant would be located, saying the company was currently thrashing out a deal over a new base.

The cooking process will now take place at a site outside the borough. 

The 15 staff currently employed at Cradley will keep their jobs but are expected to be transferred to another site in six months time. The site will be used as a packing plant until then.

Paul Borgsteede, whose house in Mogul Lane backs on to the factory, said he and wife Edna were overjoyed that the cooking process would be done elsewhere.

A police spokesman warned people against buying food of this type from anything other than a reputable outlet.

Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to call police on 0845 113 5000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.