TRADESMEN were targeted overnight last week by thieves stealing tools from van.

On Thursday night last week, around six thefts from work vans occurred in the Saxon Way and Charlton areas of Andover with police asking all tradesmen in Andover not to leave their tools or any valuables in their vans overnight as they remain still a prime target for thieves.

Since October this year Hampshire Police received dozens of reports from tradesmen who have been the victim of theft from their work vehicles usually parked outside their residences overnight in the Andover area.

Andover officers redirected their patrol areas in response to this rise in vehicle crime and saw a drop in tool thefts being reported during November as a result, before more thefts occurred again overnight on Thursday last week.

Police are asking anyone who may have been a witness to a possible tool related theft from vehicle to call and let call handlers know that this relates to the spate of tool thefts currently ongoing in the Andover area.