The Number

A crime wave targeting white vans has engulfed the western part of the San Fernando Valley, according to the Topanga Patrol Division of the Los Angeles Police Department. White Vans Stolen in West Valley Commanding Officer Captain Paul Vernon said thieves steal the vans because they are the favorite vehicle for construction-oriented contractors such as plumbers, electricians and handymen. The vans are often stolen when parked overnight in a driveway or on the street. Police recover the vans within one to three days, often near the location where they were stolen, but all the tradesmens’ tools are gone. “The real target is the tools inside the van,” Vernon said. Between Nov. 1 and Feb. 1, a total of 27 vans were stolen in the west Valley, including 20 Ford Econoline models, five Chevrolet Express models and two GMC Savanna models. All the vans were white. Vernon said detectives working the case are not sure if all the thefts were performed by one crew or various groups. While most of the vans were recovered in the Valley, a few were found in South Central Los Angeles. Police believe that’s because several swap meets in that neighborhood provide a venue for the thieves to turn the tools into cash. However, most of the stolen items are sold online. “In the old days, thieves would sell stolen goods to a fence and get pennies on the dollar,” Vernon explained. “In the age of Craigslist and Offerup.com, they can sell it for just about market value.” So far, police haven’t made an arrest in the case. Vernon suggested that contractors can avoid losing their tools by locking their vans, installing a steering wheel lock to prevent the van from moving and etching all tools with the owner’s California driver’s license or other identification number. “Police will immediately recognize it as a driver’s license number and can contact the owner,” he said. “That’s a great way of identifying tools.” – Joel Russell