THIEVES left an angler devastated when they targeted his shed recently.

The Darlington-based man was furious to find that burglars had emptied his garden shed of valuable rods and tackle on Thursday, December 11.

He said: “I’ve been fishing and collecting things for my hobby for more than 30 years and a lot of the things taken were sentimental.

“My wife phoned to tell me to come home from work because the shed had been burgled and I expected it would all be gone because it’s what people go for – there was nowt left.

“Fishing’s my hobby and you pay a lot of money for hobbies and that’s hard to come by these days.

“When you buy something you expect to have it a long time and then someone comes along and helps themselves to it – I’d like to take them out onto the moors and drop them off there.

“They don’t care about the impact or how it affects people but it’s not just about the things they take – it’s your property and you don’t feel safe after something like this, I keep expecting them to come back.”

The stolen items included many items from the Maver range, a fishing box, rods and two carry-alls.

Anyone with information about the theft should contact Darlington Police on non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.