FOUR people have been arrested as part of county-wide tool theft investigation.

Since August, Hampshire police has received more than 100 reports of vans being broken into and tools being stolen.

Areas targeted include:

  • Gosport
  • Fareham
  • Portsmouth
  • Havant
  • Emsworth
  • Waterlooville
  • Horndean
  • Petersfield
  • Greatham
  • Liphook
  • Bordon
  • Fleet
  • Farnborough
  • Blackwater
  • Andover
  • Romsey
  • Pennington
  • Cadnam
  • Chandler’s Ford
  • Horton Heath
  • Hedge End

Four people from outside of Hampshire have been arrested as part of police enquiries:

  • A 24-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal from a motor vehicle. She has been bailed with conditions until February 27 pending further enquiries.
  • A 60-year-old man from Surrey arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal from a motor vehicle. He has been bailed with conditions until February 28 pending further enquiries.
  • A 26-year-old man from Bedfordshire arrested on suspicion of theft. He has been bailed with conditions until February 27 pending further enquiries.
  • A 26-year-old man from Buckinghamshire arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. He has been bailed with conditions until March 1 pending further enquiries.

Officers are urging tool owners to protectively mark their equipment so that if it is ever lost or stolen, it can be easily returned.

Advice from Hampshire Constabulary: 

  • Wherever possible remove your tools from your vehicle and store securely overnight.
  • Mark the tools clearly with your name/company name and address using paint pens and seal with a clear lacquer spray. Other property marking systems are available.
  • Consider using smart/GPS tags on high value items to enable them to be tracked.
  • Use a lockable cabinet within your van to store the tools during the day.
  • Use a small camera designed to record within vehicles.
  • Take photographs of items of value, making a note of the serial numbers and registering them online at a property register site.

For more general advice about preventing thefts from vehicles, go to hampshire.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/keeping-vehicles-safe/vehicle-safe-and-sound/.

Anyone who has been affected or has any information about these incidents that could assist enquiries, should report it to hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/ or via the 101 number, quoting 44230391471 – Operation Boromir.