THIEVES targeted several vehicles stealing tools, bank cards, a sat nav and cash in a spate of raids across Yate. 

Five cars and two vans were broken into in six streets overnight between Wednesday and Saturday last week.

The owner of one of the vehicles had bank cards stolen and these were then used in four different stores. He has spoken of his dismay at the thefts and also criticised the police response.

Builder Shaun Pearce’s van was broken into in Piper Road. Several work tools were also taken.

But despite his cards being used in Spar shops in Pucklechurch and Chipping Sodbury an Esso garage and a Tesco in Yate, police told him they could not link the card theft to his vehicle being broken into.

“Officers told me they cannot link the two crimes as apparently someone could have found my cards and just used them despite them being in my locked van that was broken into,” said Mr Pearce, a dad.

“This theft has really affected us. I had to go out and spend hundreds of pounds on new tools just to get to work. 

“As a self-employed person I can’t afford to buy lots of new tools but I can’t afford to not work either.

“The police should be doing more to help us.”

In response, a spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “Our Yate Neighbourhood Policing Team are aware of the vehicle break-ins and continue to make inquiries. 

“We are encouraging people to be vigilant, to ensure vehicles are locked and valuables are not left inside vehicles overnight. 

“We are still appealing for witnesses, and for anyone with dashcam or doorbell footage, to contact us on 101 and ask to speak to the Yate Neighbourhood Policing Team.”

The force did not comment on Mr Pearce’s specific points.

The incidents were:

Loose change and other small items taken from a car in Cheshire Close between 10.45pm on Wednesday and 6am the following day. Police reference number is 5222148471.

Two vehicles a car and a van which were parked in the same driveway in Piper Road were broken into between midnight and 8.25am on Thursday. Tools and bank cards were stolen. Tools taken include a Makita driver, grinder, battery chargers and batteries. Crime reference number is 5222148572.

A van was also broken into in Lancaster Road in the early hours of Thursday, reference number 5222148542.

A sat nav was stolen from a car in Cabot Close during the night of Saturday, reference 5222151321

On Friday, a sat nav and identification documents were stolen from a car in Shackleton Avenue - reference 5222151384.

And in Hudson Close, sunglasses, loose change and a number of power leads were stolen - reference 5222150515.
Call 101 with any imformation quoting the reference numbers above.