A MAN has been left “livid” after £160 was stolen from his van at a car boot sale yesterday.

Semi-retired gardener Mark Bartholomew, who is in his sixties, has been a stall holder at Carden School Market and Car Boot in Hollingbury, Brighton, for more than ten years.

He has never had any money taken from him before.

He said: “I am absolutely livid, especially because of the response of the organisers.

“I told them about it and they said, ‘What are we supposed to do?

“‘It is your own fault for leaving the money lying around’.”

Mark said his takings – £140 in notes and coins to the value of between £20 and £30 – were stolen from the can of his van.

He said: “The window was open so the person who stole the money must have put their arm in and taken it.

“I have heard from four or five other stall holders that they have had things stolen like clothes and jewellery.

“It goes on at a lot of car boot sales but here it seems rife.

“I want to warn others that there are thieving people about.”

Carden School Car Boot has been using the grounds at Carden Primary School in Hollingbury for more than ten years.

Earlier this year, the organisers were forced to close the boot sale after the school increased the rent for the site.

Announcing on Facebook, the organisers said: “Let’s put the record straight. The school increased the rent again for this year. It has now gone up to £492 per week.

“We were having a shortfall every week. We tried to negotiate with the school but they were not willing to compromise at all so we had to close.”

The boot sale is now open again every Sunday from 7am.