Tradesman hit by theft

Stolen tools worth thousands

A DUNDEE tradesman has blasted thieves who ransacked his van and stole tools worth thousands of pounds.

Paul Anderson’s van was parked outside of his house on Park Place in Lochee when crooks made off with power tools.

The 43-year-old, who owns Ancrum Windows, today told the Tele that the theft has impacted on his business.

He said: “The van was right outside my house when it happened.

“I was doing a bit of work in the kitchen.

“I went out and I noticed that my folder had been ripped open, then I looked in the back of my van and the tools were gone.

“I don’t know if they were just opportunists or if they were watching me in the kitchen.

“It happened so quickly — I had been going in and out from my van and I was on my last trip back to it.

“I don’t want to get down about it but I have had to cancel jobs that I had on, so it is costing me money.

“It isn’t easy when you are self-employed to replace expensive equipment because someone decided to steal it.”

The power tools that were taken included a Dewalt nail gun, a Dewalt cordless drill, a Paslode nail gun and a jig-saw.

Paul added: “The tools cost me thousands and it is a lot to replace.

“They will probably sell them for about £30, which makes it even worse.

“It has happened couple of times down here.

“My car has been broken into in the past too.”

Paul said that he took to the streets asking if anyone had seen anything and was told by youngsters that a woman and a man had been seen heading in the direction of Lochee High Street carrying power tools.

He said that he had then scoured the area but could not trace them.

He added: “When I reported it to the police they said that they would check the CCTV cameras that are at the multis.

“I haven’t heard anything back from them as yet.”

Paul Anderson, who had tools stolen from his van.