Thieves strip police Land Rover of parts
Parked vehicle targeted by crooks overnight
CUNNING thieves have stripped a marked Land Rover of its bonnet and all five doors while it was parked outside a police station in Market Bosworth.
Police officers were left red faced after their Land Rover Defender, which was parked in Shenton Lane, was targeted by thieves between 11pm on Thursday and 5.45am the following day.
The Defender models have become increasingly popular targets for thieves since they went out of production in January this year.
The 4X4 was later lifted onto the back of a recovery truck and covered with a blue sheet before being taken away.
PC 207 Rob Cross, from the force’s rural watch scheme, said: “We used this vehicle to patrol remote and isolated rural areas and promote and enhance some really productive cross-border rela- tionships with Warwickshire Police resulting in arrests.
“Underpinning all of this is the fact that it’s so unique to the area – the local community can easily identify their beat officers on patrol.
“The vehicle was also used at rural shows and had been positively received by the public.
“I am passionate about being a rural police officer and dealing with local issues and I use social media to alert people to current issues and issue crime prevention advice.
“If we can be victims of crime then so can you.
“National rural crime figures still show that one in four rural crimes go unreported. No matter how small or insignificant you may think it is, please report things to us.
“Remain vigilant, look out for your neighbours and report suspicious activity to us.”
The Defender was loaned to Leicestershire Police by Sturgess Land Rover in Leicester to help tackle rural crime last summer.
The 4x4, which is kitted out with mud terrain tyres, is used to carry crime prevention kit, including horse tack marking equipment, gun license applications and a speed gun.
A police spokesman said: “We are investigating an incident of theft from a motor vehicle.
“Enquiries into the theft are continuing. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call PC 207 Rob Cross on 101.”