Firm's warning after 'devastating' £20k tool theft

Three tree surgeons who had tools worth £20,000 stolen have warned others to "take every possible security step" to avoid it happening to them.

Jake Smith, Andre Dubourg and Bobby Brown, who run The Treeple, said their rented storage unit was broken into in Sindlesham, Berkshire, in December.

They had to borrow £25,000 and were reliant on the generosity of their local community to get their business back on track.

The company has now moved to a different site and spent £10,000 on security and insurance. No arrests have been made and no tools recovered.

Mr Smith said it nearly caused the business, which was uninsured at the time, to fold.

"We were weighing up whether or not we continue," he said.

"It was that devastating."

Thieves cut the locks on the shipping container in which the tools had been stored, before using a car to pull the doors open.

A crowdfunder set up by the workmates raised just over £4,000.

Mr Dubourg said the experience had taken its toll on the trio's mental health.

"It's one of the worst things that can happen to someone, being broken into," he explained.

"All your things are gone and there's nothing you can do about it.

"Once these tools are gone they're so hard to track down - they're sent abroad, they're sent to car boot markets."

Mr Smith said: "If you have got tools just make sure you're looking after them because you blink and they're gone.

"We thought we were being pretty safe, we never told anyone where we were.

"You can't be too safe so just be careful."

A government bill calling for harsher sentencing for tool thieves is due for a second reading in April.

The Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill proposes adding theft of tools to the list of examples considered as causing "significant additional harm" to a victim.

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