POLICE are appealing for witnesses after power tools were stolen from a van parked in a Stevenage hardware store’s car park.

Offenders forced entry into a black Citroen van parked at the B&Q car park in London Road between 2.45pm and 3.30pm on Thursday, January 20.

They removed a number of items including a Bosch 24 V drill, a Bosch Jigsaw, a Mikita 18 V drill, a Bosch 110v Power Drill, drill bits for power tools, an electricity tester and a laptop bag before making off in an unknown direction.

Later the same day a man wearing a light blue beanie hat was seen to get out of a blue Renault Espace in Digswell Park Road, Welwyn Garden City, and throw a laptop bag into a bush before driving off.

The laptop bag was later discovered to have been stolen along with the power tools removed from the van parked in B&Q.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Hayden Coggins, said: “I am appealing to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in both locations to get in contact. Perhaps you have been offered the other stolen items for sale or maybe you saw the man in his car in Digswell Park Road?”

“Any information you provide, no matter how seemingly insignificant, could be vital to our investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Coggins on the non-emergency number 0845 33 00 222 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.