ALMOST £9,000 worth of tools and equipment has been stolen from work vans across Clydebank in the past week.

The spate of attacks, including three in one night, have prompted police to urge businesses not to leave items in their vehicles.

Although the incidents may not appear directly linked, officers put out a renewed warning about items left in works vehicles.

Inspector David Quinn said: “It’s clear people are targetting commercial vehicles.”

The first three thefts from work vans were reported in a little over 24 hours last week.

A van was broken into in Windsor Crescent, Radnor Park, between 7.45pm on October 11 and 7.30am on October 12. A variety of high-value tools were taken. Another van was also broken into on the same night, parked in Pattison Street, Dalmuir, between 8pm and 10am the next morning.

And a third, a council van, had a leaf blower stolen around 1pm on October 12 in Crown Avenue, Radnor Park. The driver had only been away from his vehicle for about 10 minutes when the item was taken.

All three vans were insecure, said police.

A fourth van was locked and broken into between 4pm on October 13 and 7.10am on October 14 in Hawthorn Street, Parkhall. A number of high-value tools were stolen.

Over the weekend, between October 15 and 17, a van was broken into and power tools stolen from a vehicle in Parkhall Road.

A sixth van was forced open between October 14 and 17 in Park Road, Dalmuir, and more power tools taken.

And on Tuesday morning, a man was disturbed as he tried to break into a works van in Perth Crescent, Mountblow, at 3.34am on Tuesday morning. He ran off once the alarm went off.

Insp Quinn said: “We would urge people leaving tools and equipment in vans overnight to remove all valuables.

“We are deploying extra patrols to counter these thefts. If people are looking for crime prevention advice, phone 101 and speak to the community policing team.”