Six vans stolen so far in Newark area during January

Six vans have been stolen from the Newark area this month. Some have been set alight and stripped of their parts.

One Newark company faces a bill of up to £3,000 after its van was stolen, stripped of its parts and left in the River Trent.

The Ford Transit, belonging to DCR Electrical, Brunel Drive, was taken from Grove Leisure Centre, Balderton, after the lock and ignition were drilled.

It was abandoned near Long Lane, Farndon. Its engine, headlights, speedometer, bonnet and one wing mirror were removed.

Director Mr Daniel Richards, who set up DCR Electrical around eight years ago, said: “It has had quite a large impact because we are a small company.

“I have had to pay staff for a full day to do nothing. The van will be replaced, but my insurance premium will go through the roof. It’s going to be a £2,000-£3,000 hit.”

Electrician Sam Bagworth drove the van to the leisure centre at 8pm on Thursday. He went to the gym, returning an hour later to discover it had been stolen.

Sergeant Paul Cash, of Newark Police, said: “There has been a slight increase in the number of reported commercial van thefts in and around Newark.

“We are reviewing each incident to establish if there is any link or pattern, but this does not appear to be the case. At least one of the vans was taken while the keys were left in the vehicle. Other vans have been taken with tools or other equipment left inside.”

Sergeant Cash urged tradesmen to ensure alarms were fitted to their vehicles, along with an immobiliser.

He recommended parking, whenever possible, in a locked garage overnight or in a well-lit location.

Anyone with any information about the theft of the DCR Electrical van should call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 quoting incident 757 of January 14.