POLICE have stepped up patrols and warned tradesmen and woman to be extra vigilant after a spike of tool thefts from vehicles.

Since September 25, there have been 34 offences reported across Slough and Langley of tools being stolen from vehicles, with all of them taking place overnight and many occurring in hotel car parks around Langley and Colnbrook.

A large proportion of the incidents involved Ford Transit vans, but Citroen, Fiat and Renault vans have also been targeted.

Police have moved to urge motorists to make sure they go ‘over and above’ the standard safety procedures, and asked the public to be extra vigilant around vans parked in hotel car parks and residential areas.

Despite the spike, the number of thefts from motor vehicles is down by 26.7% in the Slough local policing area compared to this time last year.

Detective Sergeant Steve Madoc-Jones, from local CID in Slough, said: “While I am pleased to report a significant reduction in theft from vehicles so far this year, I would like to appeal to tradesmen and women who live in Slough and Langley or who stay in hotels to be really vigilant with their vehicles and tools.

“I am very aware that tools are extremely valuable and can have a huge impact on small businesses when stolen. It is really important that all tradesmen know that criminals are finding ways of accessing locked vehicles and using jammers to block signals from key fobs to vehicles to prevent vehicles locking correctly.

“It is critical that tradesmen and tradeswomen take action to secure their vehicles over and above the standard provided by vehicle manufacturers if possible.

“I would also like to ask that the public be extra vigilant around vans parked in hotel car parks and residential streets. Please report any suspicious activity, anyone loitering around car parks or anyone selling tools in unusual circumstances or for unusually cheap prices to the police immediately.

“We are undertaking additional patrols in areas where the offences are taking place and have been working with local hotels to improve security.” Anyone with information about these crimes should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police have issued the following crime prevention advice: - Always remove tools from your van where possible and keep them in a locked store.

- If you own a garage, always use it to secure your vehicle.

- Always check that your vehicle has locked correctly if using a key fob, don’t assume that it has locked- double check.

- If you have to park your vehicle in a public place ensure that it is parked in a well lit location ideally covered by CCTV cameras.

- Consider fitting an internal alarm system to your vehicle separate from the installed vehicle alarm, low cost alarms are readily available.

- Fit internal security lockers or cages for your tools and use good quality padlocks to secure them.

- Consider fitting additional external security locks and use good quality padlocks.

- Post-code or mark all tools using ultraviolet pens or engravers, forensic marking such as Selecta DNA or Smartwater can also be used.

- Keep a record of all your tools including serial numbers and identifying marks.