The South Glos Post

Police are warning trades people to be on the alert to thieves targeting vans in South Gloucestershire and Bristol and stealing either the vehicles or tools.

Officers say the thieves, often themselves in a white Ford Transit van, are targeting vehicles at building sites or parked at builders’ merchants and large hardware stores.

The thieves have been described as white men, sometimes wearing fluorescent tabards. They are able to break into a van and make off with tools within seconds.

There have been more than 30 reported incidents in the past month in the Ashley Down, Downend, Eastville, Filton, Patchway, Sea Mills, St George and Thornbury areas, most between 8am and 2pm.

(more…)

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

Filton police, the RSPCA and South Gloucestershire Council’s dog warden recovered eight dogs suspected of being stolen or neglected in an operation at a travellers’ site in Winterbourne on Tuesday 3rd August 2010.

Five dogs – a lone week-old puppy of unidentified breed, a German Shepherd bitch and her puppy and two Jack Russells – were seized by the RSPCA, concerned for their welfare.

A Malamute dog and bitch stolen from Bridgwater were also recovered, along with a Greyhound cross believed to have been stolen in 2004.

Police also seized two pony traps thought to have been stolen at the end of July.

Police and RSPCA enquiries continue.

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

Thornbury police have recovered two stolen vans after a farmer found them hidden in a field.

Neighbourhood PC Roger Hopes was contacted by the farmer on Thursday 5th August.

The white Ford Transit vans were well hidden in undergrowth in the field and one of them was on false plates. Officers have traced the owners and the vehicles have been recovered for forensic examination.

Both of the vans were stolen on Monday 2nd August. One was taken from Frampton Cotterell. The owner had briefly left it unlocked with the keys in the ignition. The other was taken from Alveston after the owner left the keys unattended while working nearby.

(more…)

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

Police are warning people to be on their guard against a scam happening in supermarket car parks.

A man is approaching people as they sit in their cars and asking for directions. While they are distracted looking at his map, cash and bank cards are stolen from bags left in the car.

There were two incidents on Tuesday June 15 2010.

One involved a 72-year-old woman whose car was parked in a disabled bay at Morrisons at Cribbs Causeway, while the other involved a 75-year-old woman in the car park at Tesco in Yate.

On both occasions the women were approached by a man described as a tanned white man, aged between 40 and 50, about 5ft 5ins tall, stocky, wearing dark-coloured clothes and a dark-coloured beret and speaking with a foreign accent.

Anyone with any information which could help police enquiries is asked to contact South Gloucestershire police on 0845 456 7000. Alternatively call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Source: Avon and Somerset Police