An Isle of Wight landscaper is counting the cost of an attack on his van that saw tools stolen and damage inflicted last night (Saturday).
The Shanklin-based businessman made the gruesome discovery earlier today as he went out to his van which had been parked at the Big Mead car park in Church Road, Shanklin.
Upon arriving at the van, he discovered that the storage locker securing tools used for his business had been forced open and all but destroyed, with the tools inside taken.
Tools including Stihl hedge cutting equipment, a leaf blower, a strimmer with a battery backpack, DeWalt power tools, petrol cans and safety equipment were all taken. An estimate of the cost of replacing the equipment is around £3,000 – with a further £1000 to fix the damage to the storage locker.
The incident has been reported to the police, and if you have any information you are asked to contact officers on 101 quoting Crime Reference No. INC-20210815-0477.
I have sympathy for the guy as it happened to me in the past and had similar taken only to find some maggot trying to sell some of them in a pub to buy drugs,i delt with it myself.
Yep the only way, good on you.
Good because the police won’t
Keep an eye out on Wightbay, and Ebay.
Thank you to everyone in the community already offering tools, equipment and even financial help. I’m so grateful. Faith in community fully restored, Thankfully I removed some of the tools Friday night so the pond life didn’t quite get everything…What’s the most frustrating thing?! Not loosing the tools, but the extensive damage to our brand new truck which will now have to be taken out of action until fixed. Thanks a lot.
Many people appreciate you and over islanders who do a great job ….you don’t need this hassle
To the poor fella this happened too if you happen to read this I’m in the same business myself, I hav’nt got much spare however I’ve a strimmer you can have plus happy to loan you gear that I’m not going to need in the immediate future, probably not to far away either
Good on ya…
What a kind and lovely gesture…
AJ77
Cheers, gutted would be a understatement.
I have been inundated with offers of help..can’t quite believe it!! Thank you for your offer too
I’m set to go Monday..
If the bastards responsible are caught they should be made to pay him the full amount of the tools, damage caused and loss of earnings. Knowing how things seem to be lately though, they’ll probably just get a slap on the wrist.
They want even get that…!!
The generosity of the local community has restored my faith in people.
Our council and social services just seem to be interested in the money they can get from central government to provide accommodation on the low for low life’s that nobody wants ….and provide them with a lovely island to carry on there drug dealing and care free existence paid by honest working people via the social service or disability equivalent……I do despair as honest people have no alternative to see this happening in front of our own eyes…
I know you shouldn’t have to but can’t you your van parked closer to you house etc etc , I know an electrical firm who’s got an app on phone that when van is unattended an alarm goes off on phone when any one touches it
Or better still, wire it up to the mains!
What a despicable thing to do, not only have you damaged a new van, stolen goods, but taken away someone’s livelihood and caused them undue stress. As if things aren’t bad enough due to the pandemic.
Not being funny but he has been leaving this van in the complete open on the car park on its own ever since it’s was new. May as well put a sign on it saying “please break in”