Motorists urged to be vigilant after spate of vehicle crimes in East Devon

Honda Accords were targeted over the weekend, as car parts were removed and almost £5,000 worth of tools were stolen from two vans.

Between 5.30pm on Sunday 18 June and 8am on Monday 19 June an exhaust and a catalytic converter was cut off a blue Honda Accord that was parked in the Fraser Road area of Exmouth.  Another catalytic converter was stolen with another having been removed from a bronze Honda Accord in the Moormead area of Budleigh Salterton during a similar time-frame.

Exmouth police are also investigating after thieves’ targeted vehicles over the weekend period between Friday 16 and Monday 19 June.

Thieves gained entry to a locked Ford Transit van in the Marles area of Exmouth and stole around £2,000 worth of expensive power tools including Makitas, Milwaukees and Hilti brands.

In the Albion Street area a woman had left her grey Kia Soul for a matter of seconds when someone distracted her a Samsung tablet worth £800 was snatched from her vehicle.

Another weekend offence took place, targeting a white Peugeot Boxer van that was parked in Jarvis Close car park in Exmouth.  The offenders stole around £1,500 worth of power tools including a distinctive yellow Dewalt radio and amongst the ten items taken was also a blue Bosch breaker drill valued at £460.

Police are urging anyone who may have seen anything suspicious to contact them and are especially asking the public to be on their guard for opportunist thieves preying on vehicles.

PSCO Malcolm McGuire from Exmouth said: “People should take care by keeping car windows closed and doors locked and by keeping valuables out of view.

“Tourists and locals flock to seaside, particularly in the summer months, and can be vulnerable to car crime.

“Phones, bags, sat navs and other valuables left on show in vehicles can be a target for criminals.  We would urge people to remove all valuables from sight to prevent temptation from opportunistic thieves.

“By taking some simple precautions, people can help police to reduce crime while preventing the heartache of losing valuables and belongings.”

Officers are urging anyone who has information to email 101@dc.police.uk or call 101, quoting references CR/048720/17(blue Honda Accord), CR/048741/17(bronze Honda Accord), CR/048858/17 (white Ford Transit van), CR/048683/17(grey Kia Soul, CR/048605/17(white Peugeot Boxer van).