Tools stolen from tradesmen's vans a mile apart in Bishop's Stortford during same lunchtime

Two tradesmen had valuable tools stolen from their vans during the same lunchtime in Bishop's Stortford.

The incidents happened just over a mile apart in Rye Street and off Hadham Road last Thursday (Nov 19).

A collection worth £1,000 was taken from a van in the long-stay Grange Paddocks 'A' car park.

The owner was working at a property near the leisure centre and returning to his vehicle at regular intervals. At 2pm, having been away from his van since midday, he discovered the theft. One of the windows had been smashed and there were jemmy marks on one of the doors.

A van in Patmore Close, home of the town's fire station, was targeted shortly before 1pm.

The thief was seen pulling up in a silver Audi A3 before drilling a hole in the vehicle's lock and stealing the tools inside.

Just before the break-in, the thief appeared to be on the phone to someone, possibly a driver in a Citroën Berlingo van who was seen arriving in the cul de sac at the same time while speaking via a bluetooth headset.