THIEVES have stolen an estimated £7,000 worth of tools from former Ipswich Town star Colin Harper.Mr Harper, 55, played for Town in the early 1970s before becoming a builder.

THIEVES have stolen an estimated £7,000 worth of tools from former Ipswich Town star Colin Harper.

Mr Harper, 55, played for Town in the early 1970s before becoming a builder.

He had parked his Ford Transit van in Dales Road, Ipswich last night, but returned to it this morning and discovered the theft.

Today, Mr Harper said he suspected he had been targeted by thieves who were stealing to order. He said that he had been left with nothing.

"They've taken everything – power tools, disc cutters, tile cutters – they even took the hubcaps off the van. They left me with nothing except a pen and pencil, which is very kind of them," said Mr Harper.

"They cut the cylinder out of the lock and used bolt croppers to get into the internal cage. I thought I had secured it enough as everything was in the cage inside the van.

"I was visiting my son as I have done many times and parked the van under a light. Whoever has done this certainly knew what they were doing. They stole to order

"The tools are the product of 25 to 30 years worth of work and I expect they're worth between £6,000 - £7,000."

Mr Harper says he can recognise each and every one of the tools that have been taken and is offering a reward for the return of them.

Mr Harper, who turned professional in the summer of 1966, played 176 times for Town, scoring six goals before leaving in 1975.

Police confirmed they had received a report of the theft, which happened some time between 6pm yesterday and 7am today.

A spokeswoman said: "A red transit van was parked in a residential road.

"The rear door was forced and bolt cutters used to cut the padlock to open the internal cage.

"A number of power tools were taken."

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact Ipswich Police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.