Detectives investigating tool thefts in Whitstable have made arrests and recovered stolen items.
The Chief Constable’s Crime Squad of Kent Police investigated two thefts in the town on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January 2023.
A van containing tools was stolen from the Cromwell Road area in the first incident, and power tools were stolen from a property in the Cornwallis Circle area in the second.
Following an investigation, officers tracked down the stolen goods and recovered them on Tuesday, January 17th.
The stolen van was discovered on Tuesday, January 24, in Canterbury, following a report that it had been used to steal roofing materials from a store in Dover the same day. The stolen items were also tracked down and returned.
In connection with the ongoing investigation:
• On Tuesday, January 17, a 42-year-old Whitstable man was arrested on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen goods.
• On Thursday, January 19, a 41-year-old man from Faversham was arrested on suspicion of burglary and attempted vehicle theft.
• On the same day, a 36-year-old man from Maidstone was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting, vehicle theft, and dangerous driving.
All three men have been released on bail until April court dates.
Following reports of vehicle thefts in the district, residents are being urged to take precautions to protect their tools from thieves.
Anyone who uses a work van should empty it at the end of the day – if they can – and lock the contents securely away elsewhere,’ said Detective Constable James Coomber of the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad. Keep an inventory of the tools, including any serial numbers, and photograph anything valuable.
‘It is recommended that you have your tools marked with identifiable identification, such as initials and postcodes, so that if they are stolen, criminals will find it difficult to sell them but it will be easier for police to reunite any tools recovered.
‘To deter potential thieves, park your vehicle near CCTV and security lights.
‘Be cautious when purchasing used tools, particularly if they already have initials or other identifying marks printed on them.
Finally, be on the lookout for anything suspicious in the area and report it to Kent Police via our website or by calling 999 if a crime is taking place.
