CCTV records stolen as thieves ransack garage for vehicles and tools

RAIDERS ripped burglar alarms from the walls of a Lymington garage and stole a CCTV recorder before making off with three vehicles and a hoard of tools worth thousands.

Peter Adams, who runs Pier Garage at Undershore Road, said the raiders smashed doors and locks to gain entry to a workshop and office.

He said: “They’ve got away with thousands of pounds worth of tools, ones I have collected for years.

“A mechanic who works alongside me had so many stolen he has been left unable to carry out work.

“They were obviously professionals as they knew exactly what they were doing – down to stealing the CCTV recorder so they can look at the pictures of themselves it captured.”

The thieves struck between 8.30pm last Friday and 8.30am Saturday. A mechanic arrived to find smashed glass from the doors, the alarms thrown on the ground and padlocks ripped open.

Mr Adams said: “The office was completely ransacked. They must have been here for some while as they opened a stack of envelopes containing invoices to see if there were any cheques or cash in them.

“They opened up two metal doors like they were sardine cans and shinned up drainpipes to get to the alarms which they threw to the ground after they ripped them off the walls.

“The CCTV monitors were in a cupboard in a storeroom with the control board of the alarms. The board was smashed off and the recorder taken.

“All our toolboxes were jemmied open. Tools, batteries and other equipment have been taken, so much in fact that we are still haven’t worked out exactly what has gone missing.

“The total, including the vehicles, runs into the tens of thousands. It’s just sickening.

“I’ve been here since 1982 and nothing like this has ever happened to me.”

The three vehicles stolen had been parked on the garage forecourt and were due to be picked up by customers on Saturday morning.

Mr Adams said: “We had just fitted a new gear box and tyres to a VW Golf. They also stole a Fiat Strada we had just finished work on, and pick-up truck that someone parks here every day.”

Hampshire police are investigating the theft and anyone with information is urged to contact them on 101.