Police are urging van owners to be vigilant and to ensure their vehicles are left secure and empty following a spate of thefts across part of Lancashire.
Over the past week thieves have targeted three Citroen vans – two of them in Kirkham and a third in St Annes – and police believe the Fylde Coast offences are linked.
The crimes are being committed during the night and police say the offenders are clearly using a vehicle to move around the area and are targeting expensive tools.
Patrols have been increased in hot spot areas and members of neighbourhood police teams are giving Citroen van owners security advice and urging them not to leave tools in their vans overnight or to leave items on display.
Fylde co-ordinator Sgt Peter Hannon said: “Patrols have been stepped up in the area but I’d urge people to remove valuables from their vehicles, and to get rid of any signs that show that valuables have been in the car – such as suction marks on the windscreen or MP3 cables – as a thief may assume they are stored in the glove box.”
Any concerns can be reported to police on 101.