CANVEY has had it tough with burglaries of late.

Throughout December, crooks ransacked about 50 homes igniting a surge in police patrols to help tackle crime, and temper heightened community concern.

However, the recent criminal activities have not been bad news for everyone on the island...

In fact, one young entrepreneur has now gone full-time with his CCTV security firm, which has been flourishing of late.

Dalen Smart, 22, set up Canvey’s Smart 24/7 Security while reading business and management at Portsmouth University three years ago.

Now, to keep up with demand he has moved back in with his parents in Labworth Road to run the business 24/7.

Dalen said: “You’ve got to seize the day.

“I didn’t want any regrets, so when I came out of Uni I had a decision to make – do I aim for a job in the city or do I try to be my own man?

“I had to give it a try, I didn’t want to get older and think ‘what if?’

"I’ve been interested in setting up CCTV cameras since I was a kid. I was kind of obsessed by burglaries as a child, I was always worried my parents’ house would be burgled.”

This bizarre obsession led a 14-year-old Dalen to install CCTV for family and friends he claims, an act that would later see him land a contract worth several thousands of pounds with King John School in Benfleet.

Dalen said: “That contract was huge and I couldn’t believe it, this is when I realised the business could go big, it was a prestigious job to carry out.”

Dalen admitted the lion’s share of business comes from those who have suffered burglaries, but refutes claims he is cashing in off crime after suffering some accusations on social media networking site Facebook.

He said: “Even if crime didn’t exist in Canvey the business would still work, a lot of people like it to keep an eye on their pets for example.

“I think a lot of people see the business and a young guy doing well and just become keyboard warriors and starting throwing all sorts of accusations around.

“People have said I’m preying on the vulnerable, but that isn’t the case.

“I give free quotes so people know what they’re getting for their money.”

Dalen accepts it was difficult to do business with people who had suffered heartbreak.

He added: “It’s not a particularly nice job.

“People get burgled and they’re at their lowest ebb and that’s hard.

“It’s not nice talking to people who have just been hit by a burglary, it’s a traumatic experience for anyone.

“So I’m in a position where I can help those people feel safe in their own homes.”