A MONMOUTH company is facing a £45,000 bill to replace three diggers that were stolen at its premises in one weekend.

Manager of Eagle Plant Hire, in Wonastow Industrial Estate, Idris Allen said they had a digger lifted over fencing and stolen three months ago.

The three one and a half tonne Takeuchi diggers each cost £15,000.

Idris said: “This is the second incident in the last three months or so where our excavators have been stolen. We have no choice but to ‘beef’ security up again – which will include a new state-of-the-art security system.

“The offender/s forced entry on Saturday (January 23) around 5.30pm and drove the diggers out, they then came back the next day to take another.

“We’ve lost business and will have to pay for greater security and our insurance premiums will no doubt soar as a result of covering the cost to replace the diggers. There really is no good news.

“This is by far the worst theft the company has seen in 15 years since I started working here. We’ve reported the incident to the police.

“We are trying to run a business and we are getting hammered by these people. You can’t stop them but you can slow them down.”

Gwent Police are appealing for information and ask anybody who has any information to call 101 quoting reference 422 of January 24.

A spokesperson for Gwent Police said: “The excavators are red and grey and the make/model is Takeuchi TB016S.

“A white panel van was seen in the area at approximately 6.50pm, and officers would like to speak to the driver of this vehicle who may be able to provide vital information.”