OP
accordfire
Sympathies fella, I hope that the pikey (and before anyone tries giving me all the PC b*******, F*** off I ain't interested) who done it dies in a nasty fireball. I know that its a long shot, considering that the whole of Purley is one big Pikey site, but it may really be worth having a nose around some of the pubs in the area. Chances are that the scrotes who done it will be trying to flog your gear within a mile of that Tesco. You could also ask around in these pubs about the most likely suspects. It may just pay off. Good luck fella.
Nah - you're in good company here mate. Political correctness needs to die a death in a nasty fireball too.
It is, sadly, unlikely he will find his kit now - it'll have been long converted into a rock or two of crack, or a baggie of some other junk.
Real life exchange rate - typical cordless drill in box = one £20 quid deal tops - cash often isn't even on offer at all now.
Whether we like it or not, most of these theft/drug networks are far better organised than any official organisation ever will be.
They can also move any item (yes, any) quicker than most of us can empty the main vein.
Latest stats from Met intelligence (yes, I know, a contradiction ) - from 2008, from theft to fence for small "portable" items is on average around 4 hours tops. Vehicles stolen to order, from theft (using keys) to vanish - around 24 hours tops on average. For vehicles that includes shipping container, dismantling, ringing, resale elsewhere, and crushing for metal value.
Scary, and senior Met admit there's naff all they can realistically do about it.