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AN organised crime gang is believed to be targeting vehicles across the borough in search of tools after more than 37 cars and vans were broken into in four days.
One woman told how her carpenter husband has been left unable to work after thieves snatched £3,000 worth of equipment.
Eleven of the 37 vehicles which have been broken into since Sunday are Ford Transit vans.
Thieves targeted four of them in Laindon - in Woodstock Crescent, Merrylands, Basildon Road and Church Road. Another two were raided in Pebmarsh Drive and Sugden Avenue, in Wickford.
Vans parked in Beams Way, Billericay, Forest Glade, in Langdon Hills, Panadown and Vermont Close, in Basildon, were also broken into.
In each case, tools worth at lease hundreds of pounds were stolen from inside.
Three Ford Transit vans were also stolen from Wimbourne, in Laindon, the A127 in Basildon and Nobel Square, on Basildon’s Burnt Mills Industrial Estate.
Jennifer Hutton, of Church Road, Laindon, said her husband has been left unable to work. Thieves targeted his van between 11pm on Saturday and 12.30am on Sunday.
She said: “The vehicle was locked and parked on the driveway. My husband is a carpenter and approximately £3,000 worth of tools were stolen. Edward is now unable to work as they are the tools of his trade.”
Insp Andy Parkman, from Basildon Police, said: “We don’t have an exact figure but thousands of pounds are believed to have been stolen.
“It’s very likely that the same people are involved and are specifically targeting Ford Transit vans, but we don’t yet know why.”
PC Marek Jaworski, from Basildon’s community policing team, urged van owners to park close to houses when the streetlights are switched off.
He said: “We are making owners of Transit and similar vehicles aware of an increasing trend of attempts to break into these vehicles overnight.
“Across the Basildon district there has been a recent rise in offences of this nature and we are currently analysing these reports to identify any links.
“We would ask owners to please be vigilant and follow basic safety advice. Where possible, remove all valuables from vans overnight. This is not always practical, so where items need to be left in the vehicle please ensure the vehicle is locked and positioned in a busy area where possible.
“We are all aware of part-night lighting which means many areas are in darkness between 1am and 5am. With this in mind owners should look to park vehicles close to houses or areas which remain lit where possible.
“Our officers are patrolling each night to locate those responsible and would ask for the public’s help in reporting any suspicious activity to us.” Call Essex Police on 101.
One woman told how her carpenter husband has been left unable to work after thieves snatched £3,000 worth of equipment.
Eleven of the 37 vehicles which have been broken into since Sunday are Ford Transit vans.
Thieves targeted four of them in Laindon - in Woodstock Crescent, Merrylands, Basildon Road and Church Road. Another two were raided in Pebmarsh Drive and Sugden Avenue, in Wickford.
Vans parked in Beams Way, Billericay, Forest Glade, in Langdon Hills, Panadown and Vermont Close, in Basildon, were also broken into.
In each case, tools worth at lease hundreds of pounds were stolen from inside.
Three Ford Transit vans were also stolen from Wimbourne, in Laindon, the A127 in Basildon and Nobel Square, on Basildon’s Burnt Mills Industrial Estate.
Jennifer Hutton, of Church Road, Laindon, said her husband has been left unable to work. Thieves targeted his van between 11pm on Saturday and 12.30am on Sunday.
She said: “The vehicle was locked and parked on the driveway. My husband is a carpenter and approximately £3,000 worth of tools were stolen. Edward is now unable to work as they are the tools of his trade.”
Insp Andy Parkman, from Basildon Police, said: “We don’t have an exact figure but thousands of pounds are believed to have been stolen.
“It’s very likely that the same people are involved and are specifically targeting Ford Transit vans, but we don’t yet know why.”
PC Marek Jaworski, from Basildon’s community policing team, urged van owners to park close to houses when the streetlights are switched off.
He said: “We are making owners of Transit and similar vehicles aware of an increasing trend of attempts to break into these vehicles overnight.
“Across the Basildon district there has been a recent rise in offences of this nature and we are currently analysing these reports to identify any links.
“We would ask owners to please be vigilant and follow basic safety advice. Where possible, remove all valuables from vans overnight. This is not always practical, so where items need to be left in the vehicle please ensure the vehicle is locked and positioned in a busy area where possible.
“We are all aware of part-night lighting which means many areas are in darkness between 1am and 5am. With this in mind owners should look to park vehicles close to houses or areas which remain lit where possible.
“Our officers are patrolling each night to locate those responsible and would ask for the public’s help in reporting any suspicious activity to us.” Call Essex Police on 101.
