Wombwell and Swinton hit by thefts from vans

Several vans were stolen in Doncaster last Wednesday and Thursday — police believe that they were driven towards Humberside.

Two Ford Transit vans parked in Platts Common in Barnsley were stripped of their wheels on Wednesday night, while tools worth more than £1,000 were taken from vans in Smithies near Swinton and Wombwell.

Supt Liz Watson said: “Besides looking after their own property, people also need to ensure that work vehicles\!q — which often contain thousands of pounds worth of equipment — are secure.

“We’d urge workers to unload vans of anything that’s valuable and store them in a safe place, as well as making sure that the key is not left in the ignition when deliveries are made.”

She added: “Any break-in can be costly and inconvenient not only for you, but for your employer.”

The warning comes as part of Operation Lockdown, a South Yorkshire Police initiative to combat house burglaries and vehicle crime.