Perth joiner’s fury after £2,500 of equipment is stolen from his van

Finian Dillon left out of pocket after breakin, but stolen tools discovered nearby

Thieves stole about £2,500 of equipment from a joiner’s van after ripping a hole in the back of the vehicle.

The van, which belongs to FD Joinery & Construction, was parked on Perth Road, Scone, when it was targeted.

Some of the tools were later discovered a short distance away, but Finian Dillon, 43, the owner of the company, said he has been left significantly out of pocket.

Finian, from Perth, said: “I got a call from a woman who lives nearby saying there was a hole in the back of the van.

“Some tools had been stolen, about £2,500 worth. I reported it to the police.

“It’s really annoying – the damage to the van alone will cost about £500.”

After discovering the extent of the theft, Finian put up a post on social media showing an image of the damaged vehicle – calling the culprits “dirty thieving scumbags”.

People online slammed the thieves and said the van looked like it had been “hit by a meteorite” or “opened with a can opener”.

Some of the stolen goods were later discovered by a friend of Finian’s beside a local burn.

Finian said: “Whoever took the tools had them stashed 100 yards away down near a riverbank. They probably live locally and were going to come back for them.

“Luckily we got most of the tools back, but about £300 worth remain stolen.”

Finian will have to fork out about £800 for new tools and van repairs following the incident, which is understood to have taken place in the early hours of Saturday.

He added: “I’m so relieved that the majority of the tools were found.

“I will have to pay for the van to be repaired myself, but it is what it is.

“We will need to get more tools because we need them to work.”

Finian believes another similar incident happened in the area recently.

He said: “I know of another guy who had all his tools stolen outside Perth a few weeks ago.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said inquiries into the incident were ongoing.

I got a call from a woman who lives nearby saying there was a hole in the back of the van

Like it had been ‘hit by a meteorite’: Finian Dillon’s van after thieves struck on Perth Road, Scone.