Increase in van thefts across Grimsby and Scunthorpe

Humberside Police are asking van owners to remain vigilant after an increase of van thefts across the Grimsby and Scunthorpe areas.

Officers confirmed that they have made arrests and are continuing to investigate each incident of theft.

The thefts are mainly taking place in urban areas of Grimsby and Scunthorpe over the weekend, particularly in the early morning.

A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: “We are committed to tackling this type of crime, however, we are seeing an increase in the number of van thefts in urban areas of Scunthorpe and Grimsby at the moment and want to provide van owners with crime prevention advice to prevent further thefts.

“We have made arrests and are continuing our investigations, with the hope of taking thoughtless thieves off the streets, but it’s important owners are equipped with the knowledge of how best to protect their vehicles.

“It’s also important that if you see anything suspicious in your area, you contact us so that we can investigate.”

According to reports the majority of these thefts are occurring between 11 pm and 4 am, with Saturday nights into Sunday mornings the most common day for offending.

Ford Transit vans that are seven years old or older are frequently the targets but all van owners are asked to remain vigilant.

The most common method of stealing vans is keyless car theft, meaning criminals are able to access the vehicles without smashing the windows or breaking into houses to steal keys.

Officers have also issued crime prevention advice:

Always double check your car is physically secure and alarmed, especially when using keyless locking systems.
Keep keys out of sight inside your property; don’t leave near doors, windows or out on worktops
Use a Steering Wheel Lock or Car Alarm – Most modern car thieves are equipped with laptops rather than hand tools, so mechanical devices – such as steering wheel locks – can be a real deterrent.
If you have a big enough garage, keep your van in it when it is not being used.
If you don’t have a garage, park your van as close to your property as possible to make access difficult.
Where possible, block your van in with another vehicle or a driveway parking post which would mean the vehicle couldn’t be driven away.
If you don’t have a driveway, make sure to park in well-lit areas, ideally in view of CCTV cameras.
Install CCTV and a motion sensor security light covering the area where your van is kept, such as your driveway or the street outside your property.
Invest in a tracking device. Whilst it won’t necessarily stop the vehicle from being stolen, it will significantly increase the chances of us being able to locate and recover it.

Contact Gi Grimsby
Email us: news@gi-media.co.uk
Follows us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest local stories, breaking news and to join the conversation

Contact Gi Scunthorpe News
Email us: scunthorpenews@gi-media.co.uk