More than £1,000 raised so far on GoFundMePage as owner attempts to rebuild his business
A self-employed mechanic who’s tools were stolen from his van has launched a GoFundMe page to help him get back to work, the Lancashire Telegraph reports.
Lee Harrison, who runs LMH Auto Services, came home from working as a doorman in the early hours of Sunday to find his van doors open and all of his tools missing.
It’s thought around £20,000 worth of tools and equipment was taken.
He said: “It felt like someone had genuinely stolen my life. It’s just soul destroying.
“As my headlights hit the driveway and I saw my van doors open my heart just sank and I knew.
“I had a look and it had just gone – everything.”
Lee said that he had thought his business insurance would cover the contents of his van but as it does not, he is unable to make a claim.
Lee added: “For me to sit down and list what I was missing from what I remember, it would probably take me three or four days.
“It’s probably about £20,000 worth of equipment and 25 years’ hard work, 15 of that trying to build my own business.
“Someone just whipped it out from underneath me, probably in about half an hour.”
For further information or to donate, please click here.
I don’t think that you can get any insurance for your tools as the insurance companies request that you empty your complete van of tools and have a sticker displayed on the vehicle stating that no tools are kept in the vehicle overnight. You have to put all your tools in your garage and must have a working alarm at all times. If you don’t have a garage then all tools need to go inside your home and contents insurance taken out to cover them from fire or theft. I am a mobile mechanic and cannot get insurance for my tools as my insurance broker says too many terms and conditions and they definitely will not pay out for any stolen tools left inside your vehicle. I have to remove my tools which is terrible especially when you are tired and its pouring down with rain just to stop people stealing them from you whilst you sleep. I am very sorry to hear about what has happened to this chap but sooner or later it’s going to happen because they are definitely watching you.