A burglar broke into JK Hinrichsen Ironworks in Bridgeport Sunday morning and stole thousands of dollars' worth of steel working equipment, police say.

The owner says he went to work that day and found his gate and fence had been damaged and tools were missing from his building.

Surveillance images show the intruder cut his way through a chain-link fence and make his getaway on a forklift loaded with welding equipment, a band saw and other tools.

Business owner John Hinrichsen says that before that, the thief used the forklift to ram the gate several times.

"I don't think he'd get more than a couple of blocks," riding the stolen forklift, Hinrichsen says. "Hopefully a neighbor or the police or something would stop him. So hopefully he's relatively close."

Police are asking for the public's help identifying the suspect.

As for Hinrichsen and his wife, Kate, they say the thefts will make it difficult for their small business to meet upcoming deadlines.