POLICE are urging van owners in West Devon not to leave tools in their vehicles overnight after a spate of thefts from vans in the north Devon area.

The warning comes after several thefts of tools and other trade equipment from vans in Braunton and Barnstaple over the past few weeks. In one incident, in Barnstaple, £7,000 worth of tools were taken from a van parked overnight in Kingfisher Drive, Whiddon Valley overnight on Saturday to Sunday, December 2-3 (CR104932). There were two further thefts in Barnstaple and one in Braunton, of tools worth more than £1,000 in each case.

‘Police recommend where possible items are removed. Should residents notice any person paying particular attention to vans or other traders vehicles, please do not hesitate to call the police,’ advised a spokesman.

‘They would also like to hear from anyone who has been offered the items for sale or knows of anybody who has suddenly acquired a large number of tools.’

Police also suggest getting tools security marked so that if they are stolen and are subsequently recovered, the police can return them to their rightful owners.