Colchester plumber angry after 'epidemic of car thefts'

Sebastian Thornton, of Shrub End, Colchester, woke up to find his Ford Transit van had been taken.

His neighbour’s Ford Fiesta was stolen two days later when crooks towed it away using a Mercedes Sprinter van.

Mr Thornton, 55, claimed Essex Police have failed to act on the thefts.

"It feels like they give you a crime reference number and leave it for the insurance company to deal with," he said.

Mr Thornton has been without his Ford Transit – which is white and has the registration place BF64 VMZ – since May 6, and says the police should have acted more quickly.

Increase - thefts rose sharply in Colchester last year, according to official data (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “There’s an epidemic going on in Colchester, Boxted and Tiptree.

"Transit vans are being stolen - cars and pick-ups as well.

“Everybody I talk to has got a story of vehicle theft. There has been a high number over the last five weeks - more than usual.”

Mr Thornton criticised Essex Police and said the force had failed to tackle the issue.

He continued: “The police are doing absolutely nothing.

“I have got the registration plate of the person who stole my neighbour’s Fiesta.

"He’s asked what’s happened and the police have said it’s been scrapped and they are not pursuing the person who has stolen it.

“These were two thefts in four days, metres apart.

“My insurance company is asking me all kinds of questions and I’m relaying all the information to them – it’s almost like the police just give you a crime reference number and get them to deal with it.”

According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of overall recorded thefts in the Colchester police district rose from 3,592 in 2022 to 4,440 in 2023.

A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed they had not been able to track down Mr Thornton's vehicle.

He said: "We have carried out enquiries such as studying automatic number plate recognition cameras but have not been able to locate the van.

"The investigation has been filed pending new information coming to light."

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How to keep your vehicle safe

Essex Police have issued the following advice to drivers so they can keep their vehicles safe.

We know that when your vehicle gets stolen it has a big impact – it means you can’t take the kids to school, do the food shop, or you might not be able to work.

We have a dedicated officers focussed on tackling this issue and they are prolific.

Last year the Stolen Vehicle Intelligence Unit identified or recovered more than 700 stolen vehicles, worth £27 million.

Between 2021 and 2023 they’ve recovered or identified more than 1,800 vehicles worth nearly £60 million, and investigated more than 100 chop shops.

In the first three months of this year, they recovered/identified 253 vehicles with a value of £5.3m, attended 16 chop shops, and intercepted 8 shipping containers at the Port of Tilbury containing stolen vehicles or parts.

We’re also taking the same approach to investigating vehicle thefts and as we do to tackling the supply of drugs by organised crime groups, utilising specialist intelligence and investigative skills and expertise.

And we’re starting to see the tide turn in terms of the number of vehicles being stolen.

Fewer vehicles were stolen in the last month than the month before – both across Essex and in Colchester specifically.

There are things the public can do to keep their vehicle safe too:

• Double lock your car and check it;

• Use recommended safety devices, there’s more on the Secure by Design website;

• Consider investing in a steering wheel lock;

• Keep keys safe and out of reach or view from doors and windows.