‘Don’t entice thieves’ – police warning as 100 vans broken into for power tools and valuables

A car crimewave which has seen 100 vehicles broken into around the county in the last month alone has prompted police to issue a warning to motorists.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Mar 2015, 13:12 BST
Incidents of cars being broken into are on the rise across HertfordshireIncidents of cars being broken into are on the rise across Hertfordshire
Incidents of cars being broken into are on the rise across Hertfordshire

The spate of thefts relates mainly to the swiping of power tools left in work vans overnight, which has been on the increase in the area over recent weeks.

However, officers warn any items of value left in an unattended vehicle could entice a criminal to break into it.

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Insp Paul Lawrence from the Crime Reduction Unit said: “Thieves are targeting vehicles to steal anything valuable left in them, whether it is money, laptops, phones and increasingly tools.

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“Over the last month, more than 100 vans have been broken into and power tools stolen. We are urging drivers to leave nothing of value in their vehicles when they leave them unattended. Power tools can be very expensive and vital to professionals, you can’t afford to lose them so make sure you keep them safe.”

Insp Lawrence advised that if you are unable to remove tools from your vehicle, invest in an extra external lock and a tool safe, and also ensure all tools are clearly permanently marked with your postcode, as this can act as a deterrent to would-be thieves. You can also register valuables online at www.immobilise.com.

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101.