A METAL theft victim has offered a £1,000 reward to catch the crooks who stripped lead from his roof.

Thieves stripped lead flashing from a storage building at James Purdy’s home, in Tiptree.

The damage will cost about £2,000 to repair, but the stolen metal will only fetch £300 with scrapyard dealers.

Property developer Mr Purdy, 55, has offered £1,000 to anyone who has information that will lead to their arrest.

He put up the bounty after complaining police had been too slow to attend his home – Heathgate Farm, in Maldon Road.

Mr Purdy said: “You can’t see this building from the road, so I don’t know if it’s someone that has been here before.

“I called the police at 9am and was still waiting at 2pm.

“It’s as if they don’t care. I’m not sure they will come out at all.”

Mr Purdy’s wife noticed the lead had been stripped from the roof, on Saturday at 8am.

The thieves struck overnight at the farmhouse, just 30 yards from where Mr Purdy, his wife, son and grandchildren were sleeping. The lead flashing previously covered wooden struts on the shed, which is used for storing tools.

Mr Purdy said: “It is absolutely gobsmacking to think someone would have the nerve to come in my garden and do this.”

He added the shed is always locked and the house has security lights along its driveway, so he thought his property was well defended.

Footprints have been found in the garden, which suggest more than one person may have been involved.

Anyone with information can call Tiptree police on 101. Otherwise, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.