A self-employed Sandy window fitter and his family have been left picking up the pieces just before Christmas after thieves broke into his van and stole all his tools, worth about £2,000.

The Comet: Martin prepared this list showing which tools he has had stolen.Martin prepared this list showing which tools he has had stolen. (Image: Archant)

The tools, belonging to Martin McKenna, were taken from his Vauxhall Movano van at the back of Kingsley Court, by Winchester Road, at some point between 6pm on Tuesday night and 6.30am the next morning.

And his wife Sophia said afterwards that in taking the tools, the thieves had stolen his livelihood and left the family ‘devastated’.

“The low-life scum, that’s mild, who broke into my husband’s van and stole all his tools – you not only stole them, you stole his livelihood,” she said.

“You stole from his family, and his little girl expecting Christmas presents.

“You stole our right to pay bills, food in the cupboards and our privacy.

“Devastated is putting it mildly. I hope the tools bring you nothing but bad karma.”

Martin has borrowed some tools for the moment and is trying to get by, but he still hasn’t have exactly what he needs.

Sophia said: “We’re struggling, but we can only do with what we’ve got – and considering the year we’ve had, we’re thankful.

“If anyone knows anything or gets offered cheap tools, we would be sincerely grateful if they came forward and said something.”

A police spokeswoman confirmed that they were investigating the theft of a number of power tools from the van.

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting crime reference JD/50289/2016.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or use their anonymous online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.