More vans have been targeted by thieves, at a local Premier inn, as tradespeople highlight the risk.

Herts Police confirmed that multiple vehicles were targeted while parked securely at the Premier Inn car park in Ascot Road, Watford, on Thursday night/early Friday morning (September 28/29).

The vehicles involved were mainly vans, police said, and suffered damage to their doors/panels as a thief, or thieves, forced entry.

It follows many similar offences in west Hertfordshire and across the UK.

Earlier last month, the Kings Langley’s Premier Inn car park was also confirmed to have been targeted. Tools were stolen from two Ford Transits overnight on September 12/13 after holes were drilled into them.

Before that, items were reported stolen from a Vauxhall Vivaro parked at the Premier Inn in Water Lane, Watford, on the night of September 6 or early morning of September 7.

“Suspects gained entry to the vehicle by drilling/cutting a hole in the rear doors,” Herts Police confirmed the next day. “After gaining entry, items were taken.”

Stephen Baker, of S.B Multitrade, whose tools were stolen at the Rickmansworth Premier Inn car park in February, said that the hotels are targeted because they are known to be used by tradespeople on out-of-area work.

“They know no tradesman is going to drag all their tools into their hotel room,” he explained. “So, they know the vans are fully kitted.”

Watford Observer: Van door with hole drilled/cut after theft.Van door with hole drilled/cut after theft. (Image: Stephen Baker)

Common types of generic branded tools kits usually cost around £1,000, he said, with the additional equipment and materials a tradesperson builds up over years of work often bringing the total value inside their van to around £10,000 or more.

Mr Baker added that advice and ways to protect vans away from home are regularly shared among trade groups, but after a day of manual labour people are often asleep relatively early, and it is easy to forget to take precautions.

In a messaged shared through the force’s Online Watch Link (OWL) service, Herts Police confirmed they are investigating the latest thefts and appealed for information from the public.

The alert said: “Police will be making onsite CCTV enquiries, but did you see any suspicious behaviour whilst driving passed?

“Any information on descriptions, types of vehicles used, and direction of travel would aid us with our enquiries.”