Theft from vans in hotel car parks

As hotels begin to return to operating normally after lockdown, so are some criminals. There have been a number of incidents reported to police of trade vans being broken into whilst left in hotel car parks overnight. The thieves are after valuable tools that will then be sold on. 

The Business Crime Team have been liaising with hotels in the county and working with our media team to come up with a campaign to raise awareness of the issue and disrupt offences that not only cause loss to the victim but also prevent the person from continuing to earn a living.

The Business Crime Team would like to give the following advice to small businesses and sole traders:

• Keep your vehicle locked and your keys secure whenever not with your vehicle.
• Park in a well-lit area.  If in a hotel car park, try to park under CCTV cameras.
• If possible, reverse park into a corner so side and rear doors are against a wall or fence.
• Unload as many tools as you can from the vehicle. It might seem like a chore but it’s better than not being able to work!
• Ensure that all tools are clearly and permanently marked with your postcode and a name.  Not only can they stand a chance of being recovered but also buyers are less likely to purchase equipment with someone else’s details on.
• Keep a record of serial numbers and, ideally, a photo of valuable tools, and register them on the online property register www.immobilise.com

Open for Business Closed for Crime

PC Alex Plakhtienko and PC Mike Lee talking to businesses in Clacton

Following on from the last newsletter, the Business Crime Team were out and about in Clacton town centre on Friday, visiting retailers and offering support and encouragement to report incidents of violence and abuse to police. 

Unfortunately, during the lockdown we saw incidents of violence and abuse towards public facing employees reported to Essex Police.  Now restrictions are beginning to ease, we want to assure the public that every incident reported to police will be investigated.  Shop staff should not have to put up with abuse from the public and we want to encourage reporting of incidents so we know what is going on and can bring offenders to justice.

We will be visiting a number of districts across Essex with the campaign over the next few months.

Find out more about the Open for Business, Closed for Crime campaign.

Get in touch

• Online
• Email: business.crime.team@essex.police.uk
• Twitter @epbusinesscrime 

Essex Police Business Crime Team

Acting Inspector Terry Jacobs, acting Sergeant Mike Lee, PC Alex Plakhtienko and analyst Katie Roberts, together with three fraud prevention co-ordinators, make up the Business Crime Team.

Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs)

PC Alex Plakhtienko of the Business Crime Team has successfully obtained over 20 CBOs on the most prolific offenders in the county and he is due back in court soon to present another application.

CBOs place conditions on prolific offenders in order to restrict or stop their offending and protect victims of crime. Equally, CBOs include supportive requirements in order to tackle the route causes of offending, often this will mandate engaging with addiction treatment and support services to reduce reoffending .  They can last between two and five years and prohibit an offender from attending a particular business premises or stop them from being in an identified area.  It is an arrestable offence for a person to breach any condition of the order and that breach will see them back in court.

We have seen offending by people issued with a CBO fall dramatically over the past year.

Recent Convictions:

Daniel Teelan, 46, of Henderson Gardens, Wickford, was made subject of a Criminal Behaviour Order at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Monday 10 May.

The order bans him from entering the following shops for two years:

• Co-op, 157-159 Nevendon Road, Wickford SS12 0NY;
• Co-op, 44 High Road, Wickford SS12 9AT;
• Tesco, 155 Southend Road, Wickford SS11 8EE;
• BP Cranfield Park, Cranfield Park Road S12 9FG;
• Deichmann, 56 Eastgate Centre, Basildon SS14 1JJ.

The order was granted after he was convicted of a number of thefts from shops which took place in April.

Gemma Reed, 38, of Orchid Place, Basildon, has been convicted of a series of thefts from stores in and around Basildon town centre which took place in February this year.

She was also convicted of charges of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress and obstructing a constable in the execution of duty.

At Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Friday 7 May she was given a nine week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months.

She was also given a CBO which bans her from entering 14 different shops for two years:

• Spec Savers Opticians,58-60 Town Square, Basildon SS14 1DT.
• Savers ,21 Town Square, Basildon SS14 1BA.
• Cake Box , 15 South Walk, Basildon SS14 1BZ.
• Cost Cutters, 24 Elizabeth Court, Laindon SS15 5AG.
• Boots the Chemist, 25 Town Square ,Basildon SS14 1BA.
• Boots the Chemist , 31 Ballards Walk, Laindon SS15 5HL.
• Good Food Pekinese & Cantonese, Station Gate, Laindon SS15 6UA.
• Asda, 13 Eastgate Centre, Basildon SS14 1JJ.
• Holland & Barrett, 52 Eastgate Centre, Basildon SS14 1JJ.
• Spar, 43 Ballards Walk, Laindon SS15 5HL.
• Lidl Manor Road, Laindon SS15 6PA.
• JD Sports ,Westgate Park, Basildon SS14 1WP.
• B&M 3-5 Town Square, Basildon SS14 DZ.
• Home Bargains, Westgate Park, Basildon SS14 1WP.

PC Alex Plakhtienko, from the Business Crime Team, said:

“Shoplifting and theft can have a big impact on shops and businesses.

“We continue to work hard with businesses to protect them from crime and applying for Criminal Behaviour Orders is just one of the tools available to us.

“We’re committed to targeting those who commit crimes against local businesses in communities across Essex and we will do everything we can to bring them to justice.”