THIEVES made off with more than £3,000-worth of nail guns and drills in a smash and grab burglary at a tool hire store.

Police officers arrived at Fast Plant Swindon Ltd, in Elgin Industrial Estate, between 11pm and 11.10pm on Tuesday night after being alerted by the alarm system and a member of public.

Shop owner Mat Monet said three men can be seen on CCTV footage entering the store and leaving with the power tools, which he estimates to be worth around £3,200.

“What they have taken is specific to us because we are the only place in Swindon that sells Montana nail guns so hopefully people might recognise them if they are sold on,” he said.

“They took six nail guns, which had been on the shelf about a month, and seven DeWalt impact drivers that had only been there for four days.

“We have only been here for three months and we had this place purpose built. I’ve just had to spend £10,000 on shutters to stop this happening again and will have to stay overnight until they are fitted.

“It looks like they broke in using a nail to get a breaking point in the window and then smashed it with a fencing footblock, which weigh about 20kg.”

Mr Monet said a member of the public had seen the offenders running away through the industrial estate and alert the police.

He said there had also been an attempted break-in at the shop on Monday night when unknown individuals tried to gain access to the yard.

“Of course this will have an impact on us – we haven’t been here long and we are expanding so this is the last thing we need,” he said.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: “The case is being investigated and the CCTV will be analysed by our intelligence team.

“The intention would seem to be to sell the tools on and so we would urge people to come forward to police with any information.”

Anyone with any information should contact Wiltshire Police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.