Thieves smashed through the back door of Faversham Joinery and stole more than £15,000 worth of tools this week.

In the early hours of Monday morning, dozens of drills, saws, trimmers, sanders and transformers were snatched from the traditional joinery company in Abbeyfields.

Managing director Robin Dane is offering a reward for any information leading to the recovery of the equipment and is urging people to come forward.

With the independent business thriving before the thieves struck, Mr Dane says it could not have happened at a worse time and it is the first time they have ever been burgled since they opened in 1967.

They had to shut up shop on Monday to deal with the aftermath, as forensics tried to pull together the evidence.

Mr Dane believes they couldn’t have been on foot and there must have been more than one crook, because of the sheer amount they stole.

He said: “Someone checked in on Sunday about 3pm and everything seemed fine. Someone arrived on Monday morning at around 6am to find the back door had been smashed and a lot of tools taken.

“It’s not about the value, but just about the pain this has caused for us as our workers haven’t got the tools they need to work with.

“We are so busy and this couldn’t have happened at a worse time. I’m just so angry. It’s the same old story – some low lives who don’t care about the trouble they have caused.

“I just hope they are caught.”

Faversham Joinery employs 15 members of staff, who are now working even harder to make up for their lack of tools.

The company produces “bespoke” joinery, specialising in everything from windows, hand crafted doors, staircases, conservatories, kitchens to gates and garage doors.

Mr Dane has said that despite the incident, it’s business as usual.

Police spokesman Alice Hemmings said: “We are investigating a reported burglary at the Faversham Joinery in Abbeyfields, Faversham, overnight on May 17.

“It is reported a number of power tools were taken. Inquiries are ongoing.”