THE owner of a power tool firm angered at being a repeated victim of crime has put up a £1,000 reward following another raid on his business.

Bob Nicks made the offer for information leading to the conviction of three masked raiders who were caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras stealing about £7,000 worth of equipment from Power Tool Services, at The Chapel, Front Street, Dipton, near Stanley

The gang burst into the store at 6.15pm on Thursday.

Mr Nicks said: "They must have been waiting for me to leave. They broke two padlocks and a mortice lock before cutting the telephone lines and disabling the alarm.

"The men, who also wore head torches, reversed a white Mercedes-type high-sided van up to the door and began removing equipment.

"If it had not been for my neighbour, who saw them and disturbed them, it would have been much worse. As it is, they stole about £7,000 worth of equipment in only three minutes."

Mr Nicks added: "This is not the first time. I had a shop in Gateshead which was raided three times, leaving me bankrupt and putting me out of business.

"I had to claw my way back and moved here to Dipton thinking it would be safer. But they seem to think they can just help themselves."

Mr Nicks said a couple of years ago raiders used cutting equipment to burn their way into his Dipton premises and removed £5,000 worth of goods, while more recently there was another failed bid.

Detective Constable Damon Devine, of Stanley CID, who is leading the investigation said: "At the time, there were a significant number of cars driving past the premises and someone may have seen what was happening or spotted the Mercedes-style van.

"Among the wide variety of tools stolen were a number of nail guns, which in the hands of someone inexperienced could be very dangerous."

Det Con Devine said two men filmed in the shop earlier in the day had acted suspiciously and could have been members of the gang.

Both were in their 40s. One was bald, and the other had short hair and a moustache and wore a bomber-type jacket.

Anyone with information has been asked to call police on (01207) 232144.