Police have issued a warning to drivers who have tent boxes fitted to their cars.
They say there’s been a series of thefts or attempted thefts of the boxes in North Yorkshire recently.
Just before 1am last Tuesday (22 April), three men pulled into a cul-de-sac in Helperby, between Easingwold and Boroughbridge.
One stayed in the vehicle while the other two attempted to remove the tent box and roof bars from a car parked outside the victim’s home.
They left the scene empty-handed after being disturbed.
Between about 10.30pm on Friday and 7.30am on Saturday (25 and 26 April) in Sherburn in Elmet, offenders stole a tent box from the roof rack of a Volkswagon Caravelle parked on the street.
Between 7pm on Tuesday 29 April and 7am on Wednesday 30 April, offenders targeted a blue VW Caddy van parked on Outgaits Lane in Hunmanby.
They removed the tent box, which contained bedding and mattresses, and left the scene unnoticed.
Then between 10pm on Tuesday 29 April and 4am the next day, offenders entered a rear yard of the victim’s address in Sheriff Hutton and stole a black tent box, worth around £1,500, from a blue Volkswagen.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “We are investigating these incidents and are appealing to anyone who has any information to get in touch.
“In the meantime, we’re asking residents to take extra precautions to help deter opportunistic thieves.”
These include:
- Remove if you can: If your tent box or roof box is detachable, consider removing it when not in use, especially overnight.
- Park smart: Whenever possible, park your vehicle in a locked garage. If that’s not available, aim to park in a well-lit area covered by CCTV or overlooked by homes.
- Use security devices: High-quality locks and anti-theft devices can act as strong deterrents. Check that all fixings are secure and consider additional straps or security cables.
- Mark your property: Use a UV pen or property marking system to mark your tent box with your postcode and house number. This helps us return recovered items and makes stolen goods harder to sell.
- Stay alert: Keep an eye out for anyone acting suspiciously around vehicles, both yours or your neighbours’ and report any concerns to us straight away.
The spokesperson said: “If you have any information about these thefts, or if you spot something suspicious, please contact us on 101 or report anonymously via Crimestoppers their website or on 0800 555 111.”