Neighbourhood Watch Message
Warning for Builders and other Tradesmen
Please be aware that thieves are targeting vehicles belonging to builders and other tradesmen when they park where they are working, staying overnight or outside their homes and stealing power and hand tools from inside. Please remind neighbours who are in the trade that they should remove tools from vehicles overnight and when parked up during the day or take other suitable action to prevent theft. Consider using some of the following tips:
• If you have a garage, use it. If you have to park your van outside try to park with the rear doors close to a building, garage door, wall or hedge to make gaining access more difficult.
• Consider using additional locks specific to vans.
• Consider adding an additional alarm to the vehicle to protect any goods or tools stored while in transit.
• Leave your vehicle empty. Don’t leave tools in vehicles unattended or overnight, and place a sign in the window stating they have been removed.
• If this is not possible consider installing secure storage containers or lockers in the van to store the tools in.
• Property marking. Security mark your tools to deter criminals. Either engrave or mark the tools with a permanent marker or paint, with your post code and house number or name. Also use an ultraviolet pen to covertly mark the tools or use a covert product such as Smartwater or Selecta DNA. Further details can be found at www.smartwater.com and www.selectadna.co.uk
• Register your tools on Immobilise the national property register at www.immobilise.com where you can record makes, models, serial numbers etc. This will help to trace them back to you if they are stolen and then recovered. Take photographs of your tools and equipment to help trace them if they are stolen.
Remember the police rely on information from members of the public in order to crack down on this type of crime so please report any suspicious activity, including being offered tools for sale in suspicious circumstances, to the police on 101, or if a crime is in progress dial 999.
Alternatively you can report information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.