MORE than £5,000 worth of tools, as well as a drone and wallet, have been stolen from the truck of a recently founded roofing business leaving the owner feeling “sick”.
Thieves broke into a locked vehicle belonging to Poole-based Up Top Roofing overnight between Thursday, April 14 and Good Friday on April 15 in Queens Road and made off with several goods.
Co-owner of Up Top Roofing, Guy Moore, said all the efforts to build the business – which started in November – had been “taken away” by the thieves who stole drills, hammers, shovels, a nail gun, an expensive drone and his colleague’s wallet containing around £600 in cash.
Guy told the Echo: “It was a bad week to say the least. I think what hurt most is that almost all the tools stolen had been bought the day or two before. A matter of days and they’re all gone.”
On the Friday morning, Guy’s colleague Kieran couldn’t find his wallet. Believing it to still be in the truck, a black Fiat Fullback, he conducted a search and discovered all the tools in the vehicle had been stolen.
It is believed the thieves gained access by forcibly lifting the rubber lip of the truck’s tail gate.
Guy added: “We only started the business in November, and it feels like all those efforts have been taken away now. I want people to be aware that work vehicles are being targeted. It’s a lesson learnt for us and I doubt we’re ever going to see those tools again. We’ll have to take the loss.
“To lose £5,000 worth hurts. The total may even be higher but it makes me sick to even think about that.
“We now just want to know who did it so we can prevent anyone else from getting robbed. It could be a friend’s business next. Unless they get caught, they’re not going to stop.”
Guy is offering a £500 reward to anyone who has information which may lead to the identification of those responsible.
A Dorset Police spokesperson said: “We received a report at 1.21pm on Friday April 15 reporting that a vehicle that was parked in Queens Road in Poole has been broken into and a quantity of tools had been stolen, as well as a wallet and a drone. It was reported that the incident occurred between 11.55pm on Thursday April 14 and 7am on Friday April 15.
“Enquiries into the incident are ongoing. No arrests have been made.”
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