BURGLARS smashed through the wall of a garage belonging to a decorator and stole a paint sprayer and compressor valued at more than £3,000

Richard Fisher, who has been in the trade for 30 years, said the kit was hidden in a gap between a panel and the wall at his property in Beechcroft Road.

“When I found out, I was pretty upset because it’s a lot of money to lose,” he said. They dropped the compressor in a garden nearby because it’s a heavy old thing to drag about but the sprayer is only the weight of a suitcase.”

A neighbour spotted a group of males carrying the machine and heading towards the Penhill area after the raid on the evening of June 20.

Now Richard is faced with the problem of working without the tools of his trade.

“I use it 80 per cent of the time but the unit didn’t have a gun or hose attached so I may find it if it’s for sale within the trade,” he said.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said the theft was being investigated and appealed for anyone with information or who might have CCTV footage of the suspects to get in touch.

Call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.