Local News

Delivery drivers working around the county in the run-up to Christmas are being warned about a spike in van thefts and assaults and are being given safety advice by Kent Police.

Since the beginning of November there have been nine reports concerning either delivery drivers who have been assaulted or vans stolen in Ashford, Dartford, Sevenoaks, Rochester, Sittingbourne and Gillingham.

Here in Sittingbourne on Thursday 19th November a van was stolen from Albany Road at around 4:00pm. The driver heard the van starting up and tried to stop the suspect. He was injured as the suspect drove away. The van had around 50 parcels inside (Crime Ref: 46/207029/20).

Kent Police are investigating all the reports across the county and it is unknown, at this stage, whether the offences are linked. Businesses, partner agencies and hauliers are being warned about the issue and offered safety advice to pass on to their drivers to ensure they remain as protected as possible and stay vigilant to the offending.

The advice includes:

• If you spot a suspicious vehicle following you, do not get out of your car or van, keep the doors locked, keep moving and call 999.
• Agree a delivery plan with your employer or family member and keep in touch regularly.
• Consider alternative routes to avoid always travelling on the same roads.
• Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged.
• If something does not feel right, don’t make the delivery and call your employer.
• Avoid areas that are not well lit, use a torch and always lock your vehicle – it only takes a minute for a thief to get into your van and take goods.
• Consider tinted windows to ensure passers-by can’t see what is inside your vehicle.
• Consider installing a tracker to assist in recovering your vehicle if it does get stolen.
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Superintendent Pete Steenhuis, from Kent Police, told SFM News: ‘We have officers paying particular attention to this type of offending and are working with businesses to warn as many drivers as we can and offer advice to help keep them safe. It is clear that criminals are willing to be violent in order to get their hands on vans and parcels and we would ask everyone to be vigilant as Christmas approaches, when deliveries are busier than usual. Whilst officers around the county investigate these separate incidents, it is important drivers take all the necessary steps available to secure their vehicles and report anything suspicious to us straight away."

Police are urging people to be mindful of such incidents, stay alert and if you are expecting a delivery and see something suspicious to report the details to them immediately. Any information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, could be of great help in order to identify the offenders.

Anyone who witnessed any of these incidents or has information that could assist in any of the investigations is urged to call 01795 419119 quoting the reference shown above.

Swale Borough Council have confirmed that there may be delays to waste and recycling collections as more members of staff are having to self-isolate to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

A spokesperson told SFM News that the council "have proactive plans in place for this type of occasion" and that additional staff were being brought in to help, but that there may still be an impact on collections and street cleansing over the next few weeks.

Cllr Tim Valentine, cabinet member for environment at the council, told SFM listeners: “Our contractors have clear processes in place to keep their staff safe, and if a crew member tests positive, those who work closely with them have to self-isolate to make sure there is no risk of further infection. With the high number of cases across the borough, we all need to make sure we are doing all we can to stop the spread of the virus. In this case, that may unfortunately mean some disruption to our collections, for which we apologise. If your waste or recycling is not collected on the day you expected, please leave it out and we will get to it as soon as we can including where needed on weekends.”

For information on the council’s work during the pandemic, visit www.swale.gov.uk/coronavirus.

The Rotary Club of Sitttingbourne Invicta are working with the Swale Foodbank to produce Christmas Gift Boxes for children in age groups from 3 – 11 in the Sittingbourne area who would otherwise have very little or nothing on Christmas Day.

Members and friends of Sittingbourne Invicta will be working hard to produce many Gift Boxes, but need help from the local community here in Sittingbourne.

If you would like to help by making a Christmas Gift Box, using a simple shoe box filled with a selection of inexpensive gifts, you can get all the details from Chris Bunting, by calling 07976 568 125 or tune in to 106.9 SFM for the latest information.

Kent Police have confirmed that theft charges have been authorised against a man who is alleged to have stolen ink cartridges worth around £1,500 from a supermarket in Faversham.

Albert Ramsden is accused of targeting the business, in Bysing Wood Road, on three occasions between Monday 16th and Wednesday 18th November.

On each occasion, a quantity of printer cartridges is said to have been taken.

The 19-year-old, of Crown Quay Lane in Sittingbourne, was arrested on suspicion of the offences by officers from the Kent Special Constabulary on Friday (20th November).

He was later charged with three counts of theft and appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Saturday (21st November). He was subsequently released on bail and will next appear at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 5th January 2021.