A building site had £3,500 worth of tools stolen overnight.

The site in Caxton Way, Watford, was burgled between 5.45pm on November 21 and 5.50am on November 22, after thieves lifted a fence panel away before levering open the window of a container.

Thieves "ransacked" the canteen, taking battery charges and a pipe laser before moving to the secured lock up where a laser level, a petrol locker and skill saw.

The value of these items plus other taken equal around £3,500.

Contracts manager Derek Maughan said: "I have some personal items that I took home with me yesterday. I do not leave anything here now.

"We are getting in more security overnight and now we are telling all the sub-contractors not to leave anything overnight."

Hertfordshire Constabulary have begun their enquiries, including looking at CCTV fotoage from cameras pointed towards the site.

Fadi Abdallah, 52, of Lonsdale Road, Wanstead, who works on the site, said: "I felt frustrated and numb when I found out. I’m now working on Plan B, which is getting tools to continue working.

"I pity the people who burgled me. To go to that level and do what they did is totally selfish and inhumane. "They think all tradesman make lots of money and are sure they’ll get their tools back. The journey from here to Watford is long and I have to get up very early. To find out that your tools have gone is very demoralising."

Mr Abdallah has said he will now go to extra lengths to protect his tools.

If you saw anything suspicious between the times stated, or have been offered tools for sale, please call 101 quoting crime reference number C1/17/6571, or report online at www.herts.police.uk/Report/Report-Shared/Report-a-crime.aspx