A POOLE business owner had nearly £30,000 worth of vehicles stolen within a few minutes in a “gut-wrenching” act of theft.

Jake Williams has said the “sickening” theft of two JCB diggers and a trailer worth a combined £29,350 is likely the work some sort of “organised crime” group with a knowledge of the area.

At approximately 11.45pm on Wednesday, December 22, five thieves entered Hudson Close in Alderney, Poole, where Mr Williams was temporarily storing two JCB diggers and a trailer ahead of general maintenance.

Bournemouth Echo: Poole business owner Jake Williams had nearly £30,000 worth of vehicles stolen within a few minutes

The thieves cut the lock off the trailer, before attaching the diggers onto the back on their truck and making off – all within an approximate five-minute period.

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Bournemouth Echo: Poole business owner Jake Williams had nearly £30,000 worth of vehicles stolen within a few minutes

Mr Williams also believes the theft is connected to two other incidents within a three-hour period, starting with the theft of a truck in West End, Eastleigh, with another incident at a car sales lot in Parley.

However, for Mr Williams, the theft has left him considering the future of his business after the “severe” financial blow.

He told the Echo: “It’s just gut wrenching to think they were in and out in around four minutes.

“I work very hard, most mornings I’m out the house at 6am and if I return by 7pm I’m doing okay – it’s been a good day. I miss a lot of time with my family and I’ve got two young kids. This has actually made me think about selling the business and not bothering, I’ve worked hard for it all and now it’s just gone.

“I didn’t spend much of Christmas celebrating.”

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Bournemouth Echo: Poole business owner Jake Williams had nearly £30,000 worth of vehicles stolen within a few minutes

Mr Williams, who owns JW Fencing & Landscaping, says he is offering a £6,000 reward for the return of his equipment. He said: “It’s sickening that I’ve got to put a reward out for my own machines being returned, but the cost to replace them is just too much and we’re struggling enough as it is.”

He also said the insurance wouldn’t cover the losses because the vehicles, despite being locked, were not located in a “locked compound” at the time of the theft.

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Bournemouth Echo: Poole business owner Jake Williams had nearly £30,000 worth of vehicles stolen within a few minutes

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: "It is reported that at 11.44pm on Wednesday 22 December 2021 a trailer containing two JCB diggers was stolen from Hudson Close in Poole by four men who used a transit van to transport the trailer away. The matter was reported to Dorset Police at 9.37am on Thursday 23 December 2021.

"An investigation is underway. No arrests have been made."

The spokesperson also confirmed a reported theft of an Ifor Williams twin axle tipper trailer stolen in Christchurch Road West Parley sometime between 8pm on Wednesday, December 22, and 7am on Thursday, December 23. An investigation is underway. No arrests have been made.

Hampshire Constabulary confirmed a white Ford transit van was stolen from a property in Lime Gardens, West End at around 10.20pm on Wednesday, December 22. A spokesperson said at this stage the Force is unable to confirm whether the truck theft in West End is linked, but enquiries remain ongoing and they are in the process of liaising directly with Dorset officers.