Hinckley Times

Police find more than 300 stolen power tools

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LEICESTERS­HIRE Police are hoping to reunite 300 stolen power tools with their rightful owner.

The items were recovered from addresses in the Golf Course Lane and Evelyn Drive area of Leicester, on July 6.

Police believe they were stolen in the area over a considerab­le period of time.

Power drills, bolt croppers, generators and jet washers were among the items recovered.

Most of the tools were stolen from vans and building sites, according to detective chief inspector Chris Baker, from the neighbourh­ood investigat­ions team.

Potential owners of property can attend viewing events at the police headquarte­rs in Enderby.

Attendees must bring receipts, a crime number, and documents to prove ownership and identifica­tion, such as as a passport or driving licence.

DCI Baker said: “In the last three months, we have seen an increase in the number of thefts from van incidents reported to us, tools have been stolen costing victims thousands of pounds to replace.

“These incidents have a knock-on effect on people’s livelihood­s and we take these crimes extremely seriously.

“We currently have an operation ongoing to educate people on how they can reduce their chances of being a victim, locate those responsibl­e for such crimes and to ensure peo- ple report if been a victim.”

Eight people were arrested on suspicion of theft offences in July, who were then released from custody pending further investigat­ion.

DCI Baker added: “We would ask people think about the security of their valuables and ensure their vehicles are locked and parked in a way which would make access for potential thieves difficult.

“We’d like to stress the importance of keeping vehicles and contents secure, whether you park them at home or in a public place.”

Leicesters­hire Police is running initiative­s to reduce vehicle crime, with additional officers patrolling hotspots and posting they have leaflets in public such as hotels.

The property viewing events are happening on Saturday September 16, from 10am to 4pm, and on Sunday September 17, from 10am to 3pm.

Any potential owners unable to attend are encouraged to contact 101, quoting incident 417 of September 7, and to areas, provide their details so officers can arrange a convenient time to verify their items.

Anyone who isn’t able to attend the event is encouraged to contact 101, quote incident 417 of 7 September and provide their details so officers can contact them to arrange a convenient time to verify their items.

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 ??  ?? Leicesters­hire Police are hoping to reunite a haul of stolen power tools with their owners.
Leicesters­hire Police are hoping to reunite a haul of stolen power tools with their owners.
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