A SELF-employed business owner from Worcester has warned van owners to be alert after his vehicle was targeted by “horrific” vandals.

Last week your Worcester News reported power tools had been stolen from two vans in Kempsey after thieves cut holes in the vehicles’ rear doors.

After reading the report the owner of a joinery business based in Worcester said his van had also been struck in the same way, causing hundreds of pounds of damage.

The business owner – who has asked not to be named in case the criminals targeted his company – said thieves had attempted to break into his van parked in Nine Acres Green in Warndon between 8pm on Wednesday, October 29 and 7am the following day.

Although they were not able to get into the van due to its deadlock, the owner said it had not only cost him more than £350 to fix the damage, but also he had lost earnings as he was unable to carry out work.

“Because I am under 25 and I am due to change insurance companies next weekend my new insurer has just put up my premium by £60 because of the incident and I will need a hire vehicle in the meantime,” he said.

I have been left with a van I cannot get in the back doors so I can only carry out minor jobs.

“It is being collected on Monday (November 3) to go to the body shop and they cannot tell me how long it will take.

“Basically so far it has cost me two days work plus my insurance charges.”

He said he hoped speaking out would make other business owners aware of the risks to their vehicles and help track down the criminals.

“Van owners need to be given the heads up before anybody else’s vehicles are wrecked by these horrific people,” he said.

“These people need to be stopped and justice done.”

Police were unable to confirm if any other similar crimes had been committed in the area.

Any information about the crime can be reported to police on 101 quoting incident number 0063S-301014.

Anyone with any information about the first theft in Kempsey – which involved a Vauxhall Vivaro parked in Freemantle Drive and took place between 11pm on Monday, October 20 and 5am the following day – can call 101 quoting incident number 0454-s-211014.

For the second – which involved a Volkswagen T-Sporter parked in The Oaks between 6pm on October 20 and 6am the next day - quote incident 0046-s-211014