The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Joiner ‘gutted’ by building site theft
Ayoung joiner has been left devastated after equipment worth thousands of pounds was stolen when thieves smashed into a locked tool vault at a new housing development over the weekend.
The theft took place at a building site in Whitfield in the early hours of Saturday.
The thieves got away with power tools worth about £5,500 from a house under construction on Aberlady Crescent.
The incident is understood to be linked to a wider crime spree overnight in the Whitfield area.
Marti Scott, who was the victim of the theft, said police told him hooded youngsters were seen in the area early on Saturday morning.
“The police have told me the house was broken into and then the thieves broke open a locked metal tool vault that me and my working mate Ross Muir keep our tools in,” said Marti, 28.
“I understand the kids got the tools, then handed them to guys waiting outside in cars.
“There’s also word of a black car being seen in the area at the time.
“There must have been around 15 tools taken. They are mostly power tools and they wouldn’t have been easy to carry.
“Some of them are pretty heavy so you would definitely have needed something to move them away in.”
Marti has been told it is unlikely he will get the tools back – and some have already been found destroyed, including two site radios.
He added: “Apparently around £400-£500 worth of tools have since been discovered set fire to in a local park.
“However, I think whoever took the tools will hide them away just now and then start to gradually bring them out and try to sell them when things quieten down.”
In the meantime, dad-oftwo Marti and Ross will have to dip into their own pockets to replace them.
Self-employed Mar ti said: “I didn’t work for a couple of months during lockdown and was delighted to get this job.
“It’s work for a year and it’s also local which was brilliant for us.
“We won’ t be able to work until we replace our tools so we are going to be seriously out of pocket.
“We are absolutely gutted that this has happened. It’s pretty devastating for us.”
Karen Nicoll, managing director of DJ Laing which is working on the development on Aberlady Crescent, said company representatives visited the site on Sunday after the theft.
She said: “We have been made aware of what ’s happened at the site.
“We went to visit it ourselves and are cooperating with the police.
“It is too early for us to comment any further, however we will assist with investigations and will look at the situation when we return to work on Monday.
“It is obviously a very distressing incident for those affected.”
Councillor Lynne Short, the depute convener of Dundee City Council ’s community safe ty and public protection committee, said: “This is disappointing to hear. Everyone in this city needs to work together to make it a better place for all of us.
“The police are on the case and hopefully someone will be taken to task for this theft and damage.
“The community will also work together to try to make sure this joiner gets his tools back and those responsible are held to account.”
A police spokeswoman said inquiries are ongoing.