£10,000 worth of tools stolen from tree surgery days before Christmas

Evoke Tree Services had around £10,000 of equipment stolen, including dozens of chainsaws, of December 22.

Billy, Kate and their son Freddie wearing pink to raise awareness for breast cancer in October. (Image: Supplied)

Billy and Kate have "built Evoke Tree Services from scratch and worked tirelessly" according to their friend Ben who has set up a GoFundme to help them out.

Speaking about the theft, Kate said: "It wasn't nice. Two days before Christmas, they literally took everything.

"They took every single tool that my husband built up over the last few years - more than 26 chainsaws, hedge trimmers and blowers. Every single tool we had."

Thankfully, the couple have still been able to work. Kate added: "We've had such an outpouring of help, we've had other tree companies in the area, even as far as Manchester, calling up offering help, seeing if we wanted to borrow tools. It's just been amazing."

Evoke's employees have also brought in their own chainsaws which has enabled them to keep working over the Christmas period.

Unfortunately the business didn't have insurance covering the tools as it was "unaffordable", but in hindsight Kate said it was a "stupid thing not to do".

This photo was taken over lockdown when they had time to clean all their equipment. (Image: Supplied)

They have managed to order some new tools to keep them going for the next few weeks, so far there has been a case or two where different tools they did have would help them but they are managing to get by.

Luckily, their chippers weren't stolen so the business will be able to volunteer their services as planned for Isabel Hospice, to help raise money for the charity by recycling people's Christmas trees.

READ MORE: Christmas tree recycling service offered by hospice to raise funds

Herts police have been investigating the theft too.

A spokesperson for Herts police said: " On Wednesday, December 23 at around 8pm, offenders accessed the property and stole thousands of pounds worth of power tools (hedge trimmers, chainsaws and leaf blowers).

"The offenders are believed to have travelled in a dark coloured vehicle and any witnesses or anyone with information about the burglary should contact police, including anyone who thinks they have been offered the equipment for sale."

You can report information online at herts.police.uk/report, call the non-emergency number 101 or speak to an operator in Force Communications Room via online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact. Please quote crime reference number 41/102664/20.