Bognor dad ‘sick to the core’ and unable to sleep after losing £30k in burglary

Self-employed mechanic Jonny Toone, 34, set up his own business, JCS Autos, in June. Just four months later, on Friday, October 23, Jonny found his business unit in Walberton had been ransacked by heartless thieves.

He said: “I came in to find the doors hanging off. They had ripped the safe off the walls. They took £3,000 in cash which was ready to go to the bank as well as thousands of pounds worth of tools.

“I’m just trying to provide a decent life for my family, my two very young children and my wife. Things were going well and then this.”

The theft means Jonny is currently unable to work. He faced another blow when his insurance was declared invalid due to a perceived lack of proper security.

Jonny said the incident has left him struggling to sleep at night.

He added: “They’ve got my driving licence so I’m worried they’re going to my house where my kids are. I’ve spent money on a security system for my house just to protect my kids. My wife is petrified to be on the house on her own with the boys.

“It’s the mental torture in knowing someone has been through my private stuff and equipment I’ve worked my whole life to have. It will ultimately be left to my children. This is all for my kids. Someone has taken that from them and that’s the hardest pill to swallow.

“There are people out there who will openly destroy someone and that makes you feel sick to the core. It’s horrible.”

Strangers’ generosity has been ‘overwhelming’

Family-friend Natalie Barker has launched a Gofundme page to help the family recover. So far, nearly £800 has been raised.

Jonny said he has been left ‘lost for words’ by the kindness of strangers.

He added: “I can’t believe the kindness of some people to donate. I’ll forever be in their debt. I’m lost for words. I truly am speechless with all the kindess and generosity. It’s really overwhelming that there’s people that I don’t even know sending me money in these hard times.”

To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/getting-jonny-back-on-his-feet.

Sussex Police launched an investigation following the theft.

A spokesperson said: “The break-in was discovered shortly before noon on Friday, October 23, and is known to have occurred after 5pm the previous evening.

“Anyone with information about the incident is asked to report online or call 101 quoting serial 572 of 23/10.”

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