Southampton: £2500 of power tools burgled from offices

It is the second time within two years that David Hurlock’s building company Landene has had its inventory of tools taken – leaving the firm determined to catch the culprit.

The firm also acts as a landlord, renting out office space in places such as Royal Mail House on Terminus Terrace.

It was at the Grade II listed building that the construction firm were storing nearly £2500 worth of equipment, when a man managed to find an unlocked door on February 15 and steal the tools.

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“He came in about 10am in the morning and did what he needed to do with the small tools,” David said, when talking about the alleged thief.

“We’re an open building, a commercial building where different businesses work. We’ve been targeted a lot, not just for this.”

Royal Mail House on Terminus Terrace. Landene believes that whoever the thief was tried every door before leaving the building twenty minutes later.

They think the culprit then returned to Royal Mail House at 2pm having changed his clothes, and broke out through the fire exit carrying a chop saw, hiding more stolen tools in his backpack.

“He’s a brazen opportunist basically,” David said.

“We’ve had to go and buy a load more tools this morning, it’s all we can do because we’ve got to carry on doing work.

Landene believe the alleged thief has been caught on CCTV. (Image: Landene) “The new tools cost about £700 this morning, but that’s not all of it yet, we still need a chop saw which will cost £600 to replace.

“It’ll probably altogether be about £2500 because we’ll have to buy all brand-new bits.”

Those at Landene also saw the man that they believe is the thief return to Royal Mail House with a companion around 8pm on February 17.

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David explained that his firm only replaced its tool set ‘about a year and a half ago’ as the company’s van was burgled in a supermarket car park.

Landene believe the alleged thief has been caught on CCTV. (Image: Landene) “We’ve put a lot of security in,” he said. 

“We’ve got 24 hour CCTV in, time locks on the doors, but he was an opportunist and managed to get away.”

The theft has been reported to police but David and Landene are trying to encourage anyone that recognises the man who allegedly stole the tools to contact officers.

A spokesperson for Hampshire police said: “Officers are investigating after tools were stolen during a burglary at Royal Mail House, Terminus Terrace, Southampton.

“The incident happened at some time between 10am and 2pm on Saturday, 15 February. Anyone with information should contact us online or on 101 quoting 44250070785.”