Police are on the trail of thieves who made it a miserable Christmas for owners of Ford Transit vans.

Officers are investigating a spate of high-value thefts across Renfrewshire.

Among the victims is self-employed plasterer John Baines, who was left devastated when he learned his van and thousands of pounds worth of tools inside it had been stolen, just minutes after being told his dad had died.

John, 52, had parked the van outside his home in Newburgh, Erskine, and only discovered it had been pinched as he was about to drive to England with his wife Suzanne to meet up with family members so they could make funeral arrangements for his father.

Relatives had phoned a short time earlier to say that his dad William, 89, had collapsed and died.

Suzanne, 49, said: “Neither of us could believe this had happened outside our home at Christmas.

“Another van belonging to John was broken into two years ago. Thousands of pounds worth of tools were stolen then but this is ten times worse, as the thieves have taken the van this time.

“We are not a family that is well off financially. We have to work hard for every penny.

Suzanne, who is a voluntary worker, says her husband had only just finished paying for a new van to replace the one that was broken into.

His plastering business has also been badly hit by the pandemic.

She added: “The first thing I thought when we discovered the theft was ‘how are we going to recover from this?’

“We felt utter hopelessness, particularly as we were grieving the death of John’s father.

“However, we’ve been overwhelmed by the support from the local community. John’s had offers of tools from people he hasn’t even met. If nothing else, it shows that good will always outweigh bad.”

John’s van was one of two Transits stolen overnight while parked outside their owners’ homes last week.

The other was taken from Sachelcourt Avenue, Bishopton, on December 21.

John’s van, with the registration number ND11 BVM, was taken two days later.

Previously, a Mercedes van belonging to Abercorn Builders was stolen from Thornburn Road, Johnstone.

Police believe the thefts may be linked and say crooks are stealing the vans for their contents, such as tools.

Call 101 if you can help.