Builders, plumbers and tradespeople are warned to guard their belongings after four van break-ins over one night.

They happened within 15 hours between Wednesday, January 20 and Thursday, January 21.

In all cases one or more windows of the vehicle were broken, Kent Police say.

In Capel Street, Capel-Le-Ferne, a DeWalt drill, a DeWalt grinder and a petrol disc cutter were reported stolen from a vehicle between 11pm and 6.30am.

In Sun Valley Way, Eythorne, tools were stolen from a vehicle between 5pm and 7am.

In Reach Road, St Margarets-at-Cliffe, power tools were taken from a van between 11pm and 7.30am.

A van was broken into while parked in Cherry Waye, Eythorne, between 8.30pm and 6.30am, but nothing was taken.

Insp Fred McCormack, from Dover Community Safety Unit, said: "Losing your tools due to crime when you need them for work can be frustrating and disruptive to your job.

"If possible, we ask vehicle owners to empty their vans at the end of the day.

"Also consider parking in a well-lit area, and install CCTV.

"Get your tools security-marked, because if they are stolen, it’ll be harder for criminals to sell them on but easier to reunite them with their owners if we recover them."

Anyone with information regarding any of these incidents should contact Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting the reference number 46/10723/21.

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You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers in Kent anonymously on 0800 555 111, or by visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.