Published: Monday, 18th May, 2009 5:24pm

Van theft puts tenants at risk

by James Kell

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TENANTS have been warned about burglars posing as council workers in a stolen van.

The Wokingham Council tenant services van was stolen from Arborfield sometime overnight on Saturday and Sunday, and tenants have been warned to be on their guard in case it is used in a distraction burglary.

Wokingham Borough Council tenant services manager Heather Richardson said: 'We don"t want to create unnecessary fears but we feel it is worth warning people that this van has been stolen and could be used by distraction burglars.

'We would always advise tenants and residents to check identification before allowing anybody into their homes and so we are only really reiterating standard warnings: Don"t be fooled by plausible looking people or, in this case, vehicles, and always insist on proper identification.'

Mrs Richardson said that Borough Council staff would not call on tenants" without an appointment and will always carry identification. As well as checking identification of all callers, she advised tenants and residents to telephone the council to verify the visit.

The stolen van is a Ford Transit pick-up truck, registration Y641 HPE, which has Wokingham Borough Council Tenant Services printed on its side.

Anyone with any information on the theft can contact Thames Valley Police on 0845 8 505 505.