Van owners in East Kilbride and Strathaven are “suffering” at the hands of crooks.
That’s the view of Chief Inspector Lex Bailie after yet more thefts of white vans in the area.
Earlier this week Police Scotland issued a stark warning following a spate of white van thefts across Lanarkshire.
That was after SIX vans had been stolen since the start of the year. Now cops have told the News two more vans were targeted.
Addressing the issue, Chief Inspector Bailie said Lanarkshire had “been targeted” with a number of thefts of work vans and the valuable tools and machinery kept within since the start of 2020.
He added: “The East Kilbride and Strathaven communities are suffering.
“Local officers are aware and focused patrols are being carried out in areas, such as industrial estates, which have been targeted.
“There will also be dedicated social media postings this weekend to raise awareness.
“Police Scotland would encourage all vehicle owners to check locks, remove any valuable from within and consider tracking equipment.”
Overnight into January 7, a white Citroen Berlingo Van was stolen from Capelrig Drive, East Kilbride, with around £2655 worth of tools within.
Further reports confirm that, between January 3 and 7, a white transit van was broken into in the town’s Hurlawcrook Road. That resulted in the lock being damaged and the dashboard removed.
That follows the theft of three white Ford transit from local industrial estates between January 2 and 5.
A white Ford transit van was also stolen between January 3 and 6 on Eaglesham Road, with another taken from Hamilton Road Industrial Estate in Strathaven between January 1 and 6.
Around 10.40pm on January 5, at Glenfield Road, Kelvin Industrial Estate, thieves drove off in a grey Ford Connect, with 150 litres of diesel and a digging bucket stolen from a construction site on Jackton Road oin January 4.
Police said they are deploying additional patrols throughout the night at all industrial estates within East Kilbride and Strathaven.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101. Information can be left anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
