Police inspector urges tradesmen and women to stay vigilant after a spate of van break-ins in Suffolk
Tradesmen and women have been urged to up the security of their vans and stay vigilant after a spate of break-ins.
Thousands of pounds worth of power tools have been stolen in overnight thefts in West Suffolk , Stowmarket , and Hadleigh this week.
Inspector Kevin Horton, of Suffolk Police, has called on van owners to remain vigilant to protect their property.
"I'd urge all those who won vans used for building, maintenance and trade to stay vigilant and to think carefully about what crime prevention methods you can use to stop becoming a victim," he said.
Insp Horton said the force was following a number of leads, including the sighting of a white Audi estate car at break-ins overnight on Wednesday in Lavenham, Boxford, Long Melford, Acton, and Bildeston.
These are being linked to incidents in Hadleigh and Stowmarket.
In Hadleigh there was a string of thefts in the same overnight period, with vans in Woodthorpe Road, Tayler Road, Clopton Gardens, Alabaster Close, and Canterbury Road targeted.
And in Stowmarket power tools were stolen from a van parked in Orwell Road, and with other streets in the town seeing doors being drilled open.
Van break-ins can be very costly to tradesmen and women. Even if thieves find nothing in the van, the damaged caused by the break-in can cost hundreds, and sometimes thousands, to repair.
Insp Horton said van owners should remove tools from their vehicle if possible, to always lock doors and close windows, to make sure the alarm and inmobiliser has been set, and if possible to park in a garage or secure area which is covered by security cameras.
He added owners should park with the doors against the wall and mark all their tools with an engraver or permanent marker.
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