POLICE are urging van owners to be vigilant of opportunist thieves following a spate of power tool thefts over the weekend.

In the last two days dozens of vans in St Albans, Harpenden and Redbourn have been broken into from the back and expensive tools stolen.

Officers have also revealed that in the past month five incidents of theft have occured in the car park opposite the Scout hut in Sandridgebury Lane.

Investigating officer DC Gemma Badat said: “There has been an increase of offences of this nature over the past couple of weeks and we are thoroughly investigating them.

"They are mostly occurring during the evening and overnight and it is vans which contain high value power tools that are specifically being targeted.

“Many of the victims will use the tools for their work which can be incredibly inconvenient. You can prevent yourself from becoming a victim by removing these items, or anything else of value from your vehicle.

"That way, if thieves break in, there is nothing for them to steal. It seems common sense advice but it is amazing how many people leave become complacent and leave these items in their vans.”