Police link theft of three Mercedes vans in Winchester and Eastleigh (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Police link theft of three Mercedes vans in Winchester and Eastleigh

4:53pm Friday 18th November 2011 in Eastleigh

POLICE are seeking help after three white vans were stolen in a week in Eastleigh and Winchester.

Officers believe the three thefts may be linked. They were all Mercedes Sprinters.

Between 6pm on November 9 and 7.20am on November 10, a white Sprinter was stolen in Wilmer Road, Eastleigh. The van contained a number of tools and pieces of machinery.

The second theft was between 11.15pm on November 11 and 1pm on November 12, when a white van was taken from Kipling Road, Eastleigh.

Just after 2.30am on November 14, a silver one was stolen from Hubert Road, St Cross, in Winchester.

The owner was woken by the sound of the engine starting and looked out of the window to see the van being driven away. The van contained several thousands of pounds worth of tools and machinery.

Companies and independent drivers are reminded that, where possible, it is advisable not to keep tools in vehicles overnight, or when the vehicle is unattended for extended periods of time.

Anyone who has any information about these thefts or suspicious activity around work vans should contact the police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.