LOCAL traders were this week warned to be on the alert after thieves made a highly organised raid on plumbers’ and builders’ vans across West Somerset last Thursday night.

They made off with an estimated £50,000 of expensive power tools and equipment from five vehicles parked outside the owners’ homes.

It was a carbon-copy of a raid two months ago when a further five vans were broken into and around £60,000 of equipment vanished without trace.

One van, parked six feet from the owner’s bedroom window in Williton, was broken into and stripped of £14,000 of power tools in an estimated three minutes.

During last Thursday’s early hours raids, thieves swooped on parked vans in Minehead, Williton, Carhampton and Washford.

Yesterday (Thursday) Avon and Somerset police appealed to local residents to get in touch if they came across anyone selling chainsaws, strimmers or other petrol and power tools.

A spokesman said: “We have put a targeted patrol plan in place at key times in specific areas in order to deter offenders and prevent further thefts.”

One of the victims told the Free Press: “There’s a pattern here which shows the thieves had made preparations beforehand and knew what was in the vans they targeted. This was a very slick and professional operation.

“Police have told us that they believe the gangs come from outside the area but so far no-one has been identified and none of the equipment has been recovered.”

Anyone with any information that they think could help with the police investigation should visit the ‘report an incident’ page on the Avon and Somerset Police website, or call 101 and ask to speak to the neighbourhood team in Minehead.

For the full report, buy this week’s Free Press.