Man, 35, admits 46 thefts from vans

THE spate of thefts from vans has died down since a man targeted in a special operation was arrested, police said this week.

Power tools and other high-value equipment was being stolen in the raids.

James Mepham, 35, formerly of Hastings and now of Bexhill, pleaded guilty at Hastings Magistrates' Court on Tuesday to a total of 46 thefts from vans in the two towns, 19 of them in Bexhill.

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He was released on bail until February 19 for pre-sentence reports.

The new head of the Bexhill Neighbourhood policing team, Inspector James Scott, said on Wednesday: "Since Mepham was arrested on January 18 the series of thefts from parked vans has tapered off.

"However, Sussex Police advise people who own vans or who bring works vans home to remove all items of value from them at night and store them securely and to discourage people from attempting to break into the van to put a notice on it saying no items of value are kept in it."

A 16 year-old local youth who cannot be named for legal reasons has appeared before the juvenile court and admitted taking a car without consent.

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The court ordered that 24 hours should be added to his supervision order and that he should be tagged for six days

Responding to Observer questions about the recent spate of vehicle crime in the town - five cars were sprayed with paint in Amherst Road on Tuesday night - Inspector Scott said police were increasing high-visibility patrols in the worst-affected areas of town.

He said the position was being monitored on a day-to-day basis and targeted patrols assigned as a result of daily monitoring meetings.