Spate of thefts from vans in Newport

A works van was broken into in the early hours of yesterday morning while parked in the Station Road area of town.

Thieves forced their way into the vehicle by attacking the back doors, damaging the lock, and once inside stole a number of expensive commercial power tools with a combined value of around £3,000.

PC Lee Thomas, the local police officer for Newport revealed this was the third such incident in the town this fortnight.

He said: "This attack comes after two works vans were broken into while parked overnight on Stafford Road in the early hours of last Wednesday.

"In both those cases, it was also commercial power tools that were targeted by the thieves.

"At this time we are unable to say if all three incidents are connected but would appeal to anyone who may have seen people acting suspiciously around commercial vehicles in town to get in touch with Telford Police."

In one of the incidents from last week, a witness described seeing a man wearing a black hoodie and black jeans running away from one of the vehicles carrying an electric saw over his shoulder, and Pc Thomas says anyone else with any information about this is urged to get in contact.

PC Thomas also appealed to owners of van and other commerical vehicles to be mindful of their own security.

He said: "Police advice is always never to leave tools in unattended vehicles overnight and to security mark high value equipment such as drills, saws and other tools with ultra-violet markers or substances such as SmartWater which can help police identify property if we find it.

"It's often very frustrating when officers do locate very expensive items which they believe are stolen, or at least in the possession of people who it shouldn't be, but are unable to trace the genuine owner so have to return it to the people it has been seized from."

Anyone with information regarding the series of thefts is asked to contact police on 101 or via the free and anonymous CrimeStoppers chairty on 0800 555 111