A Comrie joiner this week told of how his business has been “devastated” after thieves stole £5000-worth of tools from his van.
Tradesman Gordon Milne fears he may not be able to continue working following the recent raid, which happened overnight when his van was parked outside his Strowan Road home in the village.
Heartless crooks swiped all of his vital equipment, including planes, chisels, screwdrivers, finishing guns, electric sanders and planers.
Mr Milne told the Herald: “I can’t work because I have no tools so this theft is just devastating for me.
“It’s had a massive effect and I am just wondering whether I will actually be able to carry on working.
“I’ve had to phone customers to put a lot of jobs off – they have been great though and have offered to lend me tools.”
Mr Milne, who has been running his joinery business for 10 years, doesn’t have any insurance to cover the theft of his equipment.
He says this is because it is too expensive and also because of the fact insurance conditions include removing all tools from the van each night, which he finds impractical.
He continued: “I’ve always kept the van outside the house and it’s been fine until now. It was locked but the thieves managed to open the side door with a screwdriver.
“I’m not insured because you pay through the nose for it and you have to take all your tools out every night, which is a total nightmare because everything is so heavy and there’s so much equipment.
“I’m just not sure what I will do now and I can only hope the thieves will be caught.”
The break-in to Mr Milne’s van took place overnight between Sunday, March 3, and the following morning.
It appears to be part of a series of raids on vehicles across the Strathearn area.
During the same time period, another van parked was also broken into, although nothing was taken.
There were further thefts of tools from a van parked in Braco and another parked in Dunning.
Police are appealing for witnesses to all four of these incidents and are warning motorists to ensure that they lock their vehicles.
