Three men have been caught on CCTV trying car doors and breaking into a van.

Andrew Summers came home to Westcliff Road, Margate, in the early hours to find his neighbour's van doors wide open.

In the morning, Mr Summers went round to tell his neighbour about the suspicious sighting, who checked his CCTV cameras to find three men, who appear to be quite young, breaking into the vehicle.

The figures can be seen strolling down the road just after 5.30am this morning, trying multiple car doors, before finding the unlocked van.

They proceed to open the front doors, the sliding door and the boot, rifle through the contents, before making off with a number of items.

Mr Summers, who works as a chef at North Foreland golf club, said: "We are all pretty surprised. It's quite a quiet area and there's not normally a lot of trouble.

"I've lived here for three years with my wife, Claire, and we've not seen anything dodgy before."

The van is actually owned by the cousin of Mr Summer's neighbour - neither wish to be named.

The neighbour said: "I reckon they had been going all down the street trying every door. I don't think it was just that one van they got in to.

"They were doing it right under massive street lights as well.

"We're not sure what's been taken from the van yet but I'm worried about my car now and will make sure it's always locked."

Mr Summers and his neighbour put the criminal activity down to police being overstretched.

The 39-year-old said: "The general view is that if we report this to the police, they won't take it seriously. But it's because they're under-staffed and haven't got the time to follow everything up.There's a danger of people taking this into their own hands."

He added: "We leave our car unlocked sometimes so it's made me think about being a bit more careful."

Police have been contacted for a comment.

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