Bury St Edmunds-based self-employed gardener voices frustration after tools stolen from work van on Howard Estate

A self-employed gardener was unable to work for several days after tools and speakers were stolen from his van in Bury St Edmunds.

Garry Baker, who owns Garry’s Garden Services, had a chainsaw and a speaker system stolen when his van was broken into sometime between 8pm and 11.45pm on January 5 in Firtree Close on the Howard Estate.

He awoke the next morning to find that the doors to his van were open.

Garry has had to order another chainsaw and has been unable to work until the new chainsaw arrives.

He said the items were worth about £200 and he had also lost money during the days he could have been working.

“It’s put me behind and I’m out of pocket,” he added.

“I’ve still got to pay bills. It’s just so annoying that I’m losing time off work and letting people down. It’s not good.

“You can’t empty your van all the time because after you’ve done a day’s work cutting down trees, you’re tired and you think ‘I’ll leave them on there, they’ll be alright’. But no, that’s what happens.”

Garry said he had now bought deadlocks to lock up his van securely, would empty his van of his tools every night and take off the signage on his van so it’s harder to identify as a works van.

“Everybody in the trade agrees that it’s a constant headache. You’ve got to keep locking up your van every time you get something from the back of it when you’re out working,” he added.

To other tradespeople, he said: “Even if you’re really tired after a hard day’s work and it’s pouring down with rain, still try and empty your van of your tools. Just do it otherwise you’ll be out of work for five days waiting to get your tools back.”

He believes that the police should be doing more patrols around some areas of the Howard Estate.

A spokesperson for Suffolk Police said all reasonable inquiries were conducted and exhausted with no leads established despite appeals. The case would be filed pending further information that identified a suspect.

Anyone who does have information should contact Suffolk Police on 101 quoting reference 37/1027/24.