A BUILDER is stumping up a £1,000 reward for the return of a three and half tonne mini digger that was stolen by brazen crooks from nearby a pub.

The thieves struck close to the Billinge Arms pub on Main Street, loading the £10,000 plus digger onto a lorry last month.

Builder Geoff Lomax, 55, is offering the cash reward for information, which may lead to the return of his stolen property.

It is believed it was the second digger stolen from St Helens within the space of a week.

Geoff, who had been working behind the beauty salon next to the pub, said: “They had cut through the bolt on the gate, but the bloke must have been as strong as Geoff Capes because the metal is ¼ inch thick.

“They have obviously come equipped and have been weighing the situation up for a while.

“Even the CCTV camera at the pub had been pushed upwards to hide what they were doing.

“Early in the morning they were seen driving past a nearby garage on a low loader, but the camera couldn’t pick up the registration plate.

“They turned right on the main street towards Wigan, but weren’t spotted going past The Stork pub.

“They could have gone along Pingot Road towards Newton or down Roby Well Way towards Rainford.

“A week later another digger was stolen from the The Red Cat in similar circumstances. As it was, we had just finished up and I was going back that morning to take it to another job.

“Any work I do now, I will just have to hire one.”

Geoff, from Moss Bank, who has been a builder all his working life, said the diggers cost between £10,000 to £18,000.

A police spokesperson added: “Merseyside Police are investigating and are continuing with their enquiries. If anyone has any information about these thefts they are asked to call police on 0151 709 6010 and ask to speak to the Moss Bank Neighbourhood Policing Team, or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”