Warning after vans are targeted by thieves

Do you have tools stored in a van overnight outside your home?

 

Between 1 and 15 February, 33 crimes have been raised for theft from vans across the county, with 24 of the vans having tools stolen from them.

 

The breakdown of the offences are:

Cambridge:

• 5 February: Park & Ride, Babraham Road – forced entry – tools stolen
• 5 February: Cowley Road – lock drilled – tools stolen
• 6 February: Teversham Drift – forced entry – tools stolen
• 12 February: Randal Way – forced entry – tools stolen
• 15 February: Premier Inn, Ring Fort Road – lock drilled – tools stolen

South Cambridgeshire:

• 6 February: Queensway, Sawston – forced entry – tools stolen
• 7 February: Travelodge, Newmarket Road, Little Abington – forced entry – tools stolen
• 7 February: Riddy Lane, Bourn – forced entry – tools stolen
• 7 February: Brookside, Toft – forced entry – tools stolen
• 7 February: High Street, Grantchester – not specified – tools stolen
• 9 February: Villa Place, Impington – lock drilled – tools stolen
• 12 February: Clarkes Way, Bassingbourn – unknown method of entry – tools stolen
• 12 February: The Tanyard, Bassingbourn – forced entry – tools stolen
• 12 February: Red Lion Hotel, Station Road, Whittlesford – forced entry – nothing stolen
• 13 February: Rectory Road, Duxford – forced entry – tools stolen

Huntingdonshire:

• 7 February: Marlborough Road, Eaton Socon – forced entry – tools stolen
• 9 February: Landsdowne Road, Yaxley – forced entry – tools stolen
• 9 February: Herne Road, Ramsey – lock drilled – nothing stolen
• 10 February: Whytefield Road, Ramsey – forced entry – not specified
• 12 February: Kingsbrook, St Ives – forced entry – nothing stolen
• 13 February: Constable Road, St Ives – forced entry – tools stolen
• 15 February: Limes Park, St Ives – lock drilled – nothing stolen

Fenland:

• 8 February: Shaftesbury Avenue, March – lock drilled – tools stolen
• 8 February: Church Street, Wimblington – not specified – tools stolen
• 8 February: Newgate Street, Doddington – lock drilled – tools stolen
• 8 February: Barton Road, Wisbech – lock drilled – tools stolen
• 8 February: Nightall Drive, March – lock drilled – nothing stolen
• 8 February: Church End, Leverington – lock drilled – nothing stolen
• 9 February: New Road, Chatteris – lock drilled – tools stolen
• 9 February: North End, Wisbech – lock drilled – tools stolen
• 13 February: Fillenham Way, Chatteris – vehicle unlocked – nothing stolen

Peterborough:

• 8 February: Russell Close, Thorney – lock drilled – nothing stolen
• 9 February: Woburn Drive, Thorney – lock drilled – tools stolen

 

We are finding these thieves are breaking into the vans by drilling into the locks and forcing doors open.

 

While we’re working hard to identify those responsible, there are measures that can be taken to prevent your van from being targeted, such as installing anti-drill panelling.

 

Here are some tips to protect yourself from falling victim to this crime:

• Get your tools marked. This makes them less desirable and more difficult to sell on as they can be easily identified. This can be done by visiting the immobilise website.
• You can purchase and install small cameras that are designed to record the inside of vehicles and can help us in identifying offenders.
• Keep a regularly updated inventory of what is kept in the vehicle, making note of serial numbers. This helps us to reunite the items with their rightful owners if they are recovered.
• Where possible, reverse your van into a driveway. This makes it harder for thieves to access any rear doors
• If you do not have any already, install outside lighting that is triggered by motion, as this can deter thieves.

 

Even if you do not own a van, be sure to look out for your neighbours! If you see something suspicious, please report it to us by calling 101 or through our online reports.

 

Always call 999 if you believe a crime is in action or someone is in immediate danger.

 

We would also be interested in seeing any footage from video doorbells or CCTV which may capture any suspicious activity. This can be passed to us via our website’s online reporting function.