Police step up patrols as HGVs are targeted
Vandals have slashed the sides of lorries in a spate of late night attacks.
The liveries of HGVs were cut on the M6 northbound Hilton Park service station.
A search of the area was launched but no one was found – and now officers are urging drivers to be on their guard.
Police have now stepped up patrols to deter and catch potential criminals.
Officers were called out to the service station overnight between Wednesday and Thursday this week following reports of two men lurking in the car park at around 1.05am.
With assistance from the Dog Support Unit, an extensive search was conducted but no one was located.
However officers found that damage had been caused to several lorries parked at the services near Cannock, with the curtain sides being cut open. Nothing is believed to have been stolen.
Officers from Staffordshire Police, and the Central Motorway Police Group, will be carrying out high visibility patrols of services along the M6 corridor as a result.
HGV drivers, and other motorists, are asked to be vigilant in all areas where HGVs park overnight and report suspicious activity to police immediately on 101, or in an emergency by ringing 999.
Police say there have not been any other incidents similar to this in recent weeks, but it follows a spate of attacks on HGVs across the country.
A warning was issued earlier this year amid fears gangs are driving round in specially converted trucks.
They were said to be jumping out of a hidden side door to target HGVs by slashing the curtains and stealing goods worth thousands of pounds.
Chrys Rampley, security manager at the Road Haulage Association, said: "Hauliers use soft-side trucks with a curtain because it means goods are easier to load on and off with a forklift truck.
"The downside is that they are more vulnerable to these slash and grab attacks.
"It costs about £1,000 to replace a slashed curtain but the value of goods stolen is considerably more.
"Theft of goods from trucks and theft of trucks themselves costs UK hauliers around £1 billion a year."
Anyone with information on the Hilton Park vandal attacks is asked to contact Sgt Tim Heap at Staffordshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 15 of October 17.
Alternatively, they can contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
