Job fear as Wednesbury pub raiders take all builder's tools
A builder fears he has lost his livelihood after thieves raided a Wednesbury pub and stole all his tools.
Jesse Beard, aged 54, had been refurbishing the Lamp Inn on Upper High Street, when the building was raided.
More than £5,500 worth of his tools were stolen in the raid, along with a number of items of new kitchen equipment.
Mr Beard who runs his own company, T Builders, had been working at the pub since September with his son Aaron, aged 30. They had nearly completed the ground floor and were due to start work on the first floor this week.
Usually Mr Beard takes his tools home at the weekend, but because he had so many at the pub he took the decision on Friday to lock them inside instead. On Sunday he heard the premises had been raided. The builder from Moral lane, Stourport said: "They have just stripped the place of everything of value."
The thieves took tools including a chop saw, steel saw, planes, screw drivers and chisels. They have also taken power packs, electric cables, pipes and plumbing equipment. Mr Beard added: "They have even stolen a tape measure."
The thieves got in by smashing a window, and left through the ground floor security door. It is thought they would have used a van to transport the tools and equipment from the pub.
He said: "They have taken everything, and I wasn't insured, so I just don't really know what to do. I don't have the tools to continue on with the work. For 13 years I have worked in this trade, and this has never happened before. I'm just in shock."
He added: "Ironically this is the busiest year I have had in a long time. I have lots of jobs booked in, but without my tools I just won't be able to get it done."
The thieves broke into the pub between 6.30pm on Friday and 1.30pm on Sunday.
Anyone with information should call police on 101.
