TOOLS worth more than £20,000 were stolen from 14 vans in less than an hour.

The vans belonged to contractors working at Essex University.

Site manager Roman Zenzer said: “None of us saw who did it but they knew what they were after and only took the tools worth taking.

“Some of the lads had to have time off to get more tools and vans repaired.

“Unfortunately there isn’t any CCTV in the car park.”

The contractors are constructing the Essex University business school on the edge of campus near St Andrew’s Avenue.

It is believed professional thieves were able to break into the vans within seconds and are likely to have used a van or other vehicle to transport the stolen items.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Police are investigating after a number of vans belonging to members of the construction trade were broken into on Boundary Road, at a construction site at the University of Essex.

“Thieves had got into the vans between 8am and 9am on Thursday December 4.

“In all of the incidents reported to police the door locks of the vehicles had been attacked to get in.

“Once inside thieves had stolen any power tools they could grab before leaving.”

Among the vehicles broken into were:

  • A blue Vauxhall Combo van which had around £3,000 worth of tools stolen
  • A white Ford Transit which had a Hilti hammer drill, two generators, four Makita drills, a Makita disc cutter and a DeWalt circular saw taken along with other items.
  • Two white Mercedes vans, belonging to the same company, which had a Makita grinder, a Hitachi drill, a Makita drill, and a Kennedy socket set stolen
  • A white Citroen Berlingo van which had £500 worth of tools taken
  • A white Citroen Berlingo, which had a DeWalt angle grinder, a DeWalt drill, a Hilti drill and other items taken
  • A silver Vauxhall Combo van white had a Makita router, a Makita chopsaw, a Makita trimmer a Paslode nailgun, a Makita plunge saw and a Makita laser level taken.
  • A white Citroen Berlingo van which had a Makita drill, a Makita circular saw, a Makita impact driver, a Makita angle grinder and other tools taken
  • A white Vauxhall Combo van which had two DeWalt drills, two Bosch drills and a Makita grinder taken.

A spokesman for Essex Police added: “The total value of all the stolen property is in excess of £20,000 and police believe the offenders will be looking to sell such a large quantity of stolen items on as soon as possible.

“If any businesses or individuals are offered a selection of any power tools for sale they are asked to call Colchester Police Station on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.