Police are convinced that an organised group of criminals are behind the recent increase in vans being broken into. Tools have been top of the list of stolen items but police think others have been broken into in the hope that there would be packages for delivery still in the vehicles.

Humberside Police have confirmed that ten work vans that are all unconnected have been broken into in the Pocklington and Wilberfoss areas within the last seven days. On each occasion, the thieves struck in the early hours of the morning and made away with all kinds of tools from the vans. Police have appealed to milkmen, dog-walkers and all other early risers to keep an eye open and to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small.

Sgt Rogers said: “It is clear that all of the incidents are being carried out by the same group who seem to be targeting the entire borough. We have for some time been telling business’s to tell all workers to bring their tools into the home when they arrive home each night. However, some are continuing to take the chance. Most workers have actually had to buy the tools themselves and now they will have to replace them out of their own pocket.”

The vehicles targeted included a Citroen Dispatch van, a white Peugeot van and a white Citroen Berlingo van. The police have spoken to all three companies and although the vans are protected by UK van insurance, the tools were the responsibility of the driver. As only the locks were damaged none of them will be claiming on the insurance, however, the owners of another van that was stolen will have to claim as thieves not only stole the van but then cut the floor out to allow them to steal man hole covers without getting out of the vehicle. They then abandoned the van after crashing it into a wall.