TWO self-employed traders say they’ve lost their livelihoods after thieves stole their vans full of tools.

Both thefts happened in the early hours of Friday morning.

Landscaper Jay Elliott watched in shock as thieves drove his work van away from his home.

Even after he dialled 999, police told him they weren’t able to chase down the van - despite them spotting it being driven through Colchester town centre on cameras.

The van and its contents totalled £10,000.

Mr Elliott said: “I phoned at 4.30am, they phoned back about 20 minutes later to say it has been put out on the cameras.

“I then got another call about 8.15am saying they were emailing me a crime reference number but wouldn’t be able to send an officer out as it was not important enough.

“And that’s when they said that if it was found I would have to pay £150 to get it out of the compound and it had been seen on the cameras.”

The van was seen driven along Colchester’s Cowdray Avenue towards the east of the town and again in the Hythe area.

Mr Elliott, 48, said: “I feel frustrated it has been dismissed as it is.

“They don’t have the manpower. But to turn around and say me they have just seen it on camera, haven’t anyone to respond and by the way, it is going to be £150, really?”

The van was parked on Mr Elliott’s driveway in De Vere Road, Lexden, when he was woken up by the sound of the engine running.

“All my tools were packed up ready for an early start, I heard the van rev up and looked out of my window and saw it being driven down De Vere Road, then right into The Commons.

“My business has been going for just over three years and I have built it up from nothing.”

The grandad-of two had been due to continue work on a patio in Straight Road, set to earn him £3,000.

Contacts have in the meantime offered him tools so he can try to honour existing jobs.

Mr Elliottwho has one full-time employee said: “I am booked through to the end of April.

“I can’t do anything at the moment. As and when I need equipment I am also going to have to try to buy it.

“I am absolutely gutted. This is three years plus of serious hard graft and financial investment and it has gone away in no time at all. Devastated is not a strong enough word.”

The second theft happened at John and Zoe Szpucko’s home in Lucy Lane South, Stanway, and was discovered around 5.30am.

The couple didn’t hear noise on their way drive after going to bed at 10.30pm on Thursday.

Mr Szpucko is a carpenter and his £7,000 silver Ford Transit van had £6,000 of tools inside.

His wife said: “My husband is the breadwinner, he pays the mortgage and all the bills.“Luckily he has got some really good friends and they have said they will lend him tools and he will use the family car so can still earn some money. I am gutted for my husband.

“He works six days a week to provide for the family.” Witnesses or anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101.