Warning after thieves cut into several vans to steal tools on same night

OFFICERS are urging van owners in East Staffordshire to secure their vehicles and remove valuables after a spate of thefts recently.

Offenders have been cutting holes in doors and locks, peeling panels back, and are damaging rear and side doors in order to access tools which have been stored in vans overnight.

Five separate incidents were reported in the area on Tuesday.

Officers were first called to a residential address off Weeford Road, Lichfield, at around 12.05am where a grey Ford Transit van, parked on a driveway, was targeted.

Offenders damaged the passenger side door to enter the van before making off with power tools worth around £2,500 in total.

Then two similar thefts took place in Barton under Needwood, in Park Road where power tools worth £1,000 were stolen from a Mitsubishi L200 between 10.30pm on Monday and 7.30am on Tuesday, and an address off Oak Road, where tools worth £2,000 were taken from a white Vauxhall Vivaro between 8pm on Monday and 7.15am on Tuesday.

Police then attended a property off Main Street, Yoxall, where cordless tools, worth £4,000, were stolen from a Nissan Navara between 9pm on Monday and 2pm on Tuesday. Offenders managed to force the rear door of the van.

Another van was also targeted in

Himley, South Staffordshire, on the same night.

Police are investigating the incidents and urge anyone who may have seen anything suspicious to contact them.

Staffordshire Police can be contacted by calling 101 or via its digital channels. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.