Shropshire burglary victim offering reward

Charles and Sara Shackerley-Bennett were outraged when they discovered a studio adjoins their cottage at Witchcot Farm, Hayton's Bent, north of Ludlow, had been burgled.

Mr Shackerley-Bennett, 71, a retired insurance company director, said power tools and personal items had been taken and he was keen to get them back - and see those responsible brought to justice.

He said the break-in was discovered one Tuesday morning last month.

"We were actually looking for my wife's handbag, and that prompted me to go into the workshop," he said.

"I noticed straight away that my drill, which was on the work top, was gone, and then I found other tools had been taken as well.

"One of the drills was brand new, I had only used it once and was very impressed with it, so it adds insult to injury.

"Obviously my wife and I were distressed," he said, "and then outraged and a little angry at the thought of the intrusion.

"When my wife works late she sometimes sleeps in the studio but fortunately on this occasion this was not the case.

"I would very much like to have the perpetrators caught and I am willing to offer a reward of £500 for the recovery of the tools and the conviction of the perpetrator. "

The tools taken were a battery-powered Dewalt hammer drill with two batteries and charger, worth £240, serial number 348073-31; a Dewalt circular saw with two batteries and charger worth £300, serial number 954278, and a mains-powered Dewalt percussion drill worth £70, he said.

Natasha Kaur, speaking for West Mercia Police, said the burglary took place between 1am on Monday, September 15 and 2.30am on Tuesday, September 16.

She said the handbag, containing personal items, had also been taken.

A man has been arrested and released on bail until November 3 while investigations continued, she said.

"Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area should call police on 101, quoting incident number 486-s-160914," she added.