Police appeal to help them crack a series of recent alleged crimes

POLICE across the Staffordshire Moorlands are appealing for information that could help them with a number of alleged crimes.

Officers are continuing to “keep an open mind” as “investigations continue” into a spate of tool thefts from vans across the county.

Since the middle of November, incidents have been recorded in towns and villages across the county

– but following one recent arrest, power tools have been returned to their owner.

Across the Staffordshire Moorlands, Thomas Street, Leek; Stallington Road and Elm Drive, in Blythe Bridge; Greatwood Road, Tean; and Draycott Road in Upper Tean have all seen victims reporting either their vans being broken into or taken.

DC Simon Chawner, of Staffordshire Police’s CID North team, said: “We’re keeping an open mind over whether any or all of these offences are linked.

“We will continue to proactively seek out offenders and if we are able to recover property, to return it to its owners, and we will always have the other offences in our minds.

“Investigations continue, and we will always strive to keep vehicle owners safe in the communities we serve so they can keep on working.

“Following the recent arrest of one man, a 24-year-old from the Derby area for theft from a motor vehicle, and the seizing of a vehicle, some power tools have been identified and returned to one of the owners.”

At approximately 6am on Thursday, December 17, two garages on Ashbourne Road in Cheadle were targeted and items stolen.

On Friday, December

18, officers from the Local Policing Team at Biddulph served a closure order on an address in the town.

The location has been an issue for anti-social behaviour for some time and this is a clear message to others that if you cause issues in your community, you will be held to account.

The location will now be closed for three months and any person entering will be subject to arrest.

A quantity of drugs have been seized from a property in Leek.

On Wednesday, December 16, police officers executed a warrant at The Walks and seized a quantity of Class A and Class B drugs.

Anyone with information on any incident should contact Staffordshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.