Tools charity van cannibalised

The NPCC it was not something forces were seeing as a significant emerging trend nationally, but the situation was being closely monitored.

An NPCC spokesperson said: “We encourage everyone to use reputable garages to reduce the risk of stolen parts being used in your vehicle. Wherever possible, try to park your vehicle where it will be visible. Dark

The van will most probably have to be written off.

A Tools with a Mission spokesman said: “This is a devastating blow to our work, as it’s the van that gets all the donated tools back to our centres so that they can be refurbished and sent off.”

Tools with a Mission collects unwanted tools from across the UK, refurbishes them and ships them out to places like Africa where they can have a new lease of life. The charity is now hoping for help to replace its van and a secure place to store it to stop the same thing happening again.

MEG MATTHEWS

and secluded areas can be attractive to thieves.

“If you are using a car park, we encourage use of those which have the Safer Parking Scheme Park Mark status, which is awarded to parking facilities that have met the requirements of a risk assessment conducted by the police and are regularly assessed to ensure their accreditation.”

The broadcaster has also found incidents across the city going back several months.

One case was that Charaya White from Birmingham, who found her Citroen C1 had been scavenged for parts at New Canal Street car park in May 2022.

She had parked for 24 hours while visiting London by train for her birthday. “Initially I thought my car had been hit by someone in the car park,” she said. “I literally just broke down. I just went into a state of shock.”

White said she had chosen this particular car park because there were signs claiming it was patrolled. She brought a civil court case for negligence against car park operator, Good Value Parking, but dropped the action due to a lack of evidence. CCTV cameras pointing towards her parked car had not been working.

Good Value Parking, which is managed by Gallan Group, was approached by the BBC for comment, but did not respond.

Stolen, stripped and abandoned

Vehicle cannibals completely stripped the front of van which police believe was stolen from a trade show at the NEC Birmingham.

The thieves stole the bonnet and front-end of the van before dumping it in a country lane in Corley in North Warwickshire.

Pictures shared by Atherstone and Coleshill Police show the front of the white van destroyed and discarded on the village lane.

A charity has appealed for help after it became a victim of socalled car cannibalism.

Tools with a Mission has had the engine completely stripped from one of its vans.

The van was targeted while parked overnight at the charity’s refurbishment centre at Rugby in Warwickshire.

The whole front-end of the van was stolen. Thieves took the entire engine, gearbox, bonnet and driver’s seat.

The spokesman said: “We’re reaching out to local companies and organisations in Rugby for support to help us recover from this theft. We would appreciate it if you could share this post with anyone that may be able to help.”

The caravan, camping and motorhome show was taking place at Solihull-based NEC on the day the van was taken.

Atherstone and Coleshill Police officers have responded to a spate of cannibalisation cases. In January they found the remains of stolen van in Bennetts Road North.