COLLEGE bosses have offered a £5,000 reward after burglars carried out a Spiderman-style roof top raid in which £35,000 worth of computers were stolen.

The reward follows a burglary which took place at Amersham and Wycombe College overnight on April 18, when 13 computers were lifted out via the roof.

Tom Sage, director of resources at the college, decided to offer the reward for information leading to the arrest of the culprits because the theft has caused chaos for students.

Neil Matthews, marketing manager for the college, in Stanley Hill, Amersham, said: "I don't think we have ever had equipment of this value stolen before.

"Everyone pulled together after it happened but obviously it is distressing.

"The computers were all Apple Macintoshes, specifically used by graphic design students who are now coming to the end of the academic year."

He added that the computers were kept in cages which had been broken into and the computers lifted out through the roof.

Crime reduction sergeant Gordon Holt said: "We are urging businesses and individuals to be extremely vigilant and increase their security wherever possible.

"There are products on the market which enable computers to be permanently marked, making them less attractive to thieves.

He added: "We urge people not to leave laptop computers on display in cars. They are portable and should be taken with you."

The college computers have software on them which is Amersham and Wycombe College licensed.

Call Amersham Police on 01494 465888 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with information