Family slept as thief targeted van and garage (From The Northern Echo)

Appeal after Bishop Auckland theft

10:04am Sunday 17th February 2013 in News By Catherine Priestley, Chief Reporter (Sedgefield)

A JOINER whose work tools were stolen from his van was devastated to discover his family’s home was also targeted while they slept.

When Lee Hodgson went to his van on the morning of Tuesday, February 12, he noticed the side door ajar and looked inside to see it had been emptied of his tools.

To his horror he then realised the French doors to his garage, in Croftside, Etherley Moor, near Bishop Auckland, had also been prised open.

At the time of burglary- overnight on February 11 to 12- Mr Hodgson, 28, his partner Kay Laverick, 29, and children Danae (cor), two, and Andon (Cor), eight, were in bed.

He said: “It makes you frightened to think of someone like that at your home.

“Luckily we don’t have a door from the garage into the main house, otherwise they would have been able to go through our house while we were in bed and take even more.”

Mr Hodgson must now replace the stolen items, worth around £3,000, so he can continue to work and hopes to recoup the cost from his insurance.

Mr Hodgson and police are appealing for information about the theft from anyone who witnessed suspicious activity or who has been offered items matching those stolen for sale.

The items stolen were a black and green Makita kit including a plane and jig saw, a 6ft long yellow Stabila level, a yellow Bosch router and jig, a yellow Dewalt chop saw, a yellow 110v transformer, a green and black Makita hammer drill, an orange Paslode nail gun, an Irwin Marples chisel set, a 100 piece Makita drill set and an orange Paslode first fix gun.

Nails and hand tools were also taken.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at Bishop Auckland on 101.