Thieves target white vans in borough (From Thurrock Gazette)

Thieves target white vans in borough

3:00pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in News

CRIMINALS are targeting white vans in Thurrock as police see a huge spike in the numbers stolen.

Chief Insp Ben Hodder said four were taken overnight, three transits and a Peugeot, on Monday from Aveley, Fobbing, Chadwell St Mary and Tilbury.

Since the start of March, 19 transit vans have been stolen in the borough, as well as other commercial vehicles.

Mr Hodder said they had not seen this many taken at once before.

He said: “We would never expect four to be taken in a night. You might get that in a week if you are unlucky.

“It is not just transits, it’s all white vans.” Officers have been brought in to carry out stop checks on van drivers, as well as stepping up patrols.

Mr Hodder added: “If you are a white van driver and get stopped, we are only trying to see if you are the legal user of that van.

“We are also working with manufacturers to see if there is anything they can do to help us.”