A VICTIM of a so-called ‘peel and steal’ attack on his van says there have been more than 30 similar attacks in parts of Bradford in just a month.

Barry Flatt, 51, said damage totalling £3,500 had been caused to his Ford Transit when thieves peeled back the passenger side panel, and stole power tools worth £5,000, leaving him unable to work.

The self-employed builder said three men had driven up to his home in Leeds Road, Eccleshill, in broad daylight on Saturday, and attacked his vehicle.

The haul of 18 tools included drills, hammer drills, nail guns and a cordless jigsaw.

Mr Flatt said that, after speaking to other tradesmen, he believed there had been 30 similar ‘peel and steal’ attacks on labourers’ vehicles in Clayton and Queensbury in February alone, including eight in the last week.

He said he was forced to spend £2,000 on replacement power tools two days after the attack so he could go to work, but was still without transport as his van was being assessed by his insurance company.

Tradesmen have taken to social media over the past couple of months saying gangs of thieves have been targeting vehicles across the region.

Mr Flatt spoke of his frustration at the attack on his van, which took place at just after noon on Saturday, and said there were an increasing number of similar incidents in Bradford.

He said: “It can’t carry on. It has to stop.

“It’s happening on a massive industrial scale. It’s ridiculous.

“There have been 30 break-ins on vans within Clayton and Queensbury in the last month.

“The impact it has had on people is phenomenal.

“Every that I speak to knows somebody who has been targeted.”

Mr Flatt said he had been disappointed by a lack of a police response to his incident.

He said: “I’m absolutely furious with the response from the police. It has infuriated me.

“The attack on my van was really brazen. I was in the house at the time it happened. I was only in there for around five minutes.

“It is a good job I didn’t come out of the house.

“I was out of work with no power tools so I had to buy some but I still don’t have any transport.

“The police are doing absolutely nothing about it. I have not had a phone call about it.”

But the force has denied Mr Flatt's claims of similar attacks in on labourers’ vehicles in Clayton and Queensbury.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Police in Bradford are investigating a number of incidents where van doors have been forced open and two males have been arrested in connection with these.

"These include five in the Queensbury Ward which were reported to police between December and February.

“During this time there have been no reports to police of vans being forced in this way in the Clayton and Fairweather Green Ward.

"These incidents are being treated seriously and we continue to urge people to make sure vehicles are locked when leaving them unattended and to remove any items of value before doing so.

"Enquiries are continuing to identify suspects for the attack on Mr Flatt's van and he has been fully updated on the investigation.”

Anyone who has any further information about the incident is asked to call police on 101, quoting crime reference number 13170089190, dated February 25.