Raiders cut through workshop roof to steal valuable power tools

THIEVES cut their way through the roof of a Cadnam workshop before stealing hundreds of pounds of power tools in an overnight raid.

The owner of the outbuilding at an address in Cadnam Lane, who wished to remain anonymous, told the A&T she had been left feeling “cheesed off” following the break-in, which she believed took place during Sunday night.

After climbing in through a narrow hole in the roof, the offenders escaped with three Stihl power tools estimated to cost over £600 to replace.

Having already got a lawn mower out of the workshop on Monday morning, the victim discovered signs the break-in had taken place as she was putting it back.

“I noticed there was an extra bit of light coming into the far right-hand corner of the workshop so I walked in to have a look and saw there was a hole in the roof,” she said.

“I’m cheesed off really - the bloody cheek! They took my brush cutter which is very dear to me.”

Commenting that Cadnam is a “very bad area for stealing”, the resident expressed frustration at the police’s failure to send any officers in response to her call reporting the burglary.

“It’s wrong, it’s very wrong,” she continued. “No way is any effort being made to catch the little buggers.

“They [the police call-taker] said, ‘I’m very sorry. Would you like counselling, someone to talk to?’, but they can’t afford to send out any officers.”

She did voice sympathy for the force as it continues to feel the impact of cuts to its funding, and she stressed the theft of her power tools was relatively minor compared with other more serious incidents. She added their replacement cost was being covered by her insurance company.

In the wake of the raid, she told the A&T she is considering investing in enhanced security at the property.

The victim also shared her suspicions that the area had been scoped out in the days leading up to the break-in, recalling seeing young men in a small blue car stopped nearby.

She also speculated that people may have been prowling the area last Friday night as one of her dogs had growled seemingly in response to something happening outside her home.

“There’s every chance they [the raiders] were having a snoop because they knew exactly where to go,” she added.

Anyone with information about the break-in should contact Hampshire police on 101, quoting crime reference number 44190236699, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.