A suspicious van caught on CCTV. Do you know of it? It’s got the lower portion painted black. Image supplied by Scott Parry.

It seems there’s quite a spate of thefts of tools and equipment from sheds, garages and parked vehicles in our areas at the moment, and this appeal reaches me via friend of the blog Scott Parry from Brownhills.

In the early hours of 4th September 2014, tools and equipment including screw/nail guns and a radio were stolen from a van parked on the owner’s driveway on the Allerdale Estate in Clayhanger.

Edited 5th September 10:50am:

Good Morning, following on from your post regarding thefts from Allerdale Road please can you update, yes the two lads were seen at approx 2am. This van tho was seen entering the estate to the left at approx 3.21am and leaving at approx 3.37am.

The CCTV image was given to the victim of the crime along with the correct times as seen on CCTV by myself. The time stamped on the picture is from the screen shot taken yesterday morning.

Two lads were later seen at 2am coming into the street and leaving with the stolen tools.

[Happy to clear that up – Bob]

This theft comes hot on the heels of shed burglaries in Shire Oak last weekend, and other incidents of vehicle burglary in Pelsall. It would be really good if we could get these buggers caught.

If you’re offered cheap tools, car stereo equipment or gardening kit, think hard about where it might have come from, and by all means grub the people flogging them into the rozzers – the stuff is probably nicked. Next time, it could be your stuff they take.

Anyone with information is urged to contact West Midlands Police by dialling 101 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.