A PROFESSIONAL gardener and tradesman is fed up after his works van was raided by thieves three times in six weeks.

About £12,000 worth of equipment was taken in two thefts outside his home and the third raid happened in a supermarket car park.

David Cobbold, who runs Essex in Bloom, said: “The first was about six weeks ago outside my home in Exeter Close in Colchester.

“Apparently there is an App or a device they can use to unlock the doors.

“They got in through the side doors and there was nothing left inside. They cleared out mowers, hedge cutters, chainsaws.”

About two weeks ago his van was raided again with similar items taken.

On Friday, February 10, a third load of equipment was taken.

While Mr Cobbold by this point was clearing out the vans himself every evening, there was little he could do when the raid took place in the car park of Tesco at the Hythe.

Mr Cobbold said: “They have CCTV but won’t give it to me, only the police.

“We were in there for about 15 minutes buying some bits and having something to eat.

“We came out and and everything was gone.

“They had broken in the back door.

“What can you do about that? What can we do without tools.

“We look after quite a lot of elderly customers and we don’t want to let them down.

“It is tremendously frustrating.

“Once the items are taken you know you are not going to get them back.

“To anyone else it is minor, to us it is the biggest downfall we can have. You speak to electricians, plumbers, builders and vans are getting broken into left, right and centre.

“The thefts in Colchester have reached a dramatic level.

“We have the right to go out to work without this happening.”

Mr Cobbold wanted to warn others about what has happened to him and urge them to be vigilant.

All three thefts have been reported to Essex Police who said investigations are continuing.

Anyone with information about these of other tool thefts around Colchester call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.