Theft victims in Culford Road, Ingham near Bury St Edmunds, speak out after attempted van break-in - nearly two months after tools stolen from vehicle
A couple who were left thousands of pounds out of pocket when power tools were stolen from a van have been targeted again in an attempted break-in.
The side window of the van, parked on their driveway in Culford Road, Ingham, was smashed on Monday night - nearly two months after tools were stolen from the vehicle.
The victims, who installed CCTV after the theft on March 26 to 27, said the latest incident was ‘unbelievable and disgraceful’.
They said: “We shouldn't have to live like this, feeling unsafe and turning our home and driveway into Fort Boyard to stop the most vile of society thieving from us - literally skulking around in a balaclava in the dark, it’s creepy and weird.”
The van alarm went off during the attempted break-in which they think spooked the culprit.
“They missed our elderly neighbour coming back from his dog walk by a just over 20 minutes, what would have happened if he had walked onto the drive with the person attempting to break into the van?” they said. “It doesn’t even dare thinking about.
“More of our money has been wasted on repairing the van, another day of work lost, more money spent of further preventatives. Where do you draw the line?
“We are hard working people, we need the very items being stolen to go out and earn a living, pay our bills and feed our families.
“It's shocking to think there are people out there not only stealing from others but willing to cause hundreds of pounds worth of damage to gain access to second hand items that they will flog for pittance. It's disgraceful.”
They said the culprit of the first theft was never caught.
They stole Makita tools including skills saws, combi drills, impact drivers jigsaw, grinder, SDS drill, reciprocating saw, double chargers, 5amp batteries and a DeWalt tool box.
In the latest incident, the culprit was first seen on CCTV at 11.31pm to 11.32pm.
They then walked down the road and returned at 11.36pm to 11.38pm when they smashed the window and attempted to access the van.
Anyone with information about the latest incident should contact Suffolk Police quoting crime reference 37/26731/24.