Police warn Dartford tradesmen following spate of tool thefts (From News Shopper)

Police warn Dartford tradesmen following spate of tool thefts

1:11pm Monday 18th March 2013 in News By Alan Woods

POLICE are warning tradesmen in Dartford to be vigilant followed a spate of thefts of tools from vans.

Detectives are investigating five separate incidents, which have occurred in broad daylight during the past month.

Three of the incidents all happened on March 4, when tools were stolen from vans in Darenth Park Avenue and Heath Lane between 10am and 1.05pm.

A further two thefts were reported on February 27 from vans parked in Cotton Lane.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Sallie Baisley said: ‘We’re taking these offences seriously and have a number of lines of enquiry to follow up, so I’d like to reassure the public everything possible is being done to bring the offenders to justice.”

The most recent reported incidents are:

Tools stolen from a van parked in Heath Lane between 1pm and 1.05pm on 4 March – crime reference XY/6942/13

Tools stolen from a van parked in Darenth Park Avenue between 10am and 10.36am on 4 March – crime reference XY/6906/13

Tools stolen from a van parked in Darenth park Avenue between 10am and 10.35am on 4 March – crime reference XY/6911/13

Tools stolen from a van parked in Cotton Lane between 7.30am and 6pm on 27 February – crime reference XY/6612/13

Tools stolen from a van parked in Cotton Lane between 2pm and 6pm on 27 February – crime reference XY/6610/13

Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting the appropriate crime reference number.