Builders, plumbers and tradespeople in the Dover area are being advised to take steps to protect their belongings against theft.
The advice comes after four reports were made to police that tools had been stolen from vehicles overnight between Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 January 2021. In all of the reports one or more of the windows of the vehicle were broken.
In Capel Street, Capel-Le-Ferne, a DeWalt drill, a DeWalt grinder and a petrol disc cutter were reported stolen from a vehicle between 11pm on 20 January and 6.30am the following morning.
In Sun Valley Way, Eythorne, tools were stolen from a vehicle between 5pm on 20 January and 7am the following morning.
In Reach Road, St Margarets At Cliffe, power tools were reported stolen from a van between 11pm on 20 January and 7.30am the following morning.
A van was broken into while parked in Cherry Waye, Eythorne, between 8.30pm on 20 January and 6.30am the following morning, but nothing was taken.
Inspector Fred McCormack from Dover Community Safety Unit said: ‘Losing your tools due to crime when you need them for work can be frustrating and disruptive to your job.
‘If possible, we ask vehicle owners to empty their vans at the end of the day.
‘Also consider parking in a well-lit area, and install CCTV.
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‘Get your tools security-marked, because if they are stolen, it’ll be harder for criminals to sell them on but easier to reunite them with their owners if we recover them.’
Anyone with information regarding any of these incidents should contact Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting 46/10723/21.
You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers in Kent anonymously on 0800 555 111, or by visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.