COMPANY bosses at Premier Wheels in Nelson have put up a £1,000 reward after thieves broke into their premises and stole £7,000 worth of wheels and car accessories which were not insured.

The robbery occurred between 6pm on Saturday, May 18, and 11am on Sunday, May 19, when thieves smashed their way into a locked portable cabin and stole 40 alloy wheels for Mercedes, Audi and BMW cars.

The directors of the Scotland Road company, Juna Saina and Zahir Imtiaz, were away on business at the time but are hoping the cash reward will help jog people's memories.

Mr Saina said: "One of our workers had the keys for the yard and was going to open up on Monday. But when he drove past on the Sunday morning he saw the gates had been removed.

"It looks like the thieves have somehow lifted the gates rather than breaking them down. They cut the alarm wire and used a crowbar or something on the door of the portable cabin.

There must have been a few of them because my partner and I can't lift the gates together.

"We graft seven days a week and then something like this happens.

"I think someone had already been here for a look around first because no-one would know those wheels were kept inside.

"We are offering £1,000 either for the recovery of the stuff or the conviction of someone found guilty of stealing it.

"That is a lot of money for people in Nelson and it might make someone come forward with information."

Ten of the 20 sets of 17 inch wheels in the cabin were stolen and Mr Saina said each set could have been sold on for about £800.

He said: "I want someone to get caught. It hasn't set us back but we do want to catch whoever was responsible.

"They only took ten of the sets so must have been disturbed.

"Somebody must have seen something because the thieves would have needed a large truck to take all those wheels because we have small van and can only fit in three or four sets."

Anyone with information should contact Nelson CID on 01282 472644.