A BUSINESSMAN has been left heartbroken after his shop was looted by thieves who stole more than £15,000 worth of stock.

D&M hardware store was raided at the weekend, sometime between 5pm on Friday and 8.45am on Monday.

The burglars forced their way in through a window at the rear of the shop, in Coronation Court, Normanby, before disabling the burglary alarm system, removing the CCTV security camera system and ransacking the premises.

Shopowner Dave Martin said: "it was heartbreaking to find the shop absolutely gutted. It must have been a professional job, because they dismantled all the security and took their time.

" They could have been in all weekend, with the amount of goods they stole. I just wanted to give it all up on Monday, but I am not going to let them beat me."

The thieves made off with large quantities of power tools, garden implements, fish and pet food and hardware, including letterboxes, door handles and paint brushes.

More than £1,000 worth of dog collars, harnesses and chains were also taken, along with frozen mice and chicks used to feed reptiles, 50 cans of spray paint in a selection of colours, £700 worth of batteries and cash from the till.

The thieves are believed to have used a large white van.

Anyone with information, or who has been offered similar items for sale over the past few days, is asked to contact PC Paul Stephenson, of Middlesbrough priority crime team on (01642) 303126.