We are urging owners of minibuses and vans, including schools and voluntary groups, to review their security.

This is because we have had a few reports recently where parts have been taken from those particular vehicles, or the vehicles themselves have been stolen.

At around 12.30am this morning (Friday 6 June), officers on patrol recovered a Ford minibus that was abandoned in Hook Road, near Rotherwick.

The minibus belonged to the Boarhunt School, in Neville Duke Road, Farnborough, and had been stolen earlier that night.

On the night of Wednesday 28 May, the back doors of a Ford white minibus were taken at the Samuel Cody School in Ballantyne Road, Farnborough.

On the same night, parts were stolen from a Ford Transit minibus that was parked on the site of Whitewater Primary School in The Street, Rotherwick.

Entry was gained to the school site and the sliding side door, the front seats and batteries were taken from the vehicle.

We are making enquiries and are looking to see if these incidents are linked to each other or any other similar incidents.

We will be contacting schools in the area directly to review their security. 

We know that those vehicles are used by others, including some voluntary groups. 

Our advice is to review your security, consider changing where you would normally park those vehicles, park them in secure areas if possible, or in clear of view of any CCTV.

Further information on protecting vehicles can be found on our website here: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/keeping-vehicles-safe/preventing-car-vehicle-theft/