Four arrested over £35k haul of sew machines

POLICE FOUND STOLEN DEVICES IN LORRY PARKED IN A LAY-BY

men have been arrested after a haul of stolen sewing machines worth an estimated £35,000 was recovered in a lorry parked in a layby.

Officers were alerted to a suspicious vehicle when it activated an automatic number plate recognition camera in Markfield, according to Leicestershire Police.

Shortly after, the vehicle was found unoccupied nearby in a layby in Stephenson Way, Coalville.

A second lorry - from which the machines had been taken - was also found nearby.

Officers from the force’s roads policing unit, assisted by armed colleagues as well as police dogs, searched the surrounding area and arrested four men.

The men, aged 18, 25, 28 and 31, remained in custody as detectives carry out further inquiries.

Detective Sergeant Simon Boden, from Coalville CID, said: “I’d like to thank my colleagues in the dogs section and roads policing and armed response units for their swift action in bringing these men into custody.

“I’m pleased that the sewing machines, which are worth tens of thousands of pounds, have been recovered.

“Our inquiries into the incident are continuing and I would like to speak to anyone who was travelFOUR ling along Stephenson Way in the early hours of Tuesday morning. “I’m particularly keen to speak to any lorry drivers who parked in the lay-by and who have dashcams installed in their vehicles.

“Any information you have could help our investigation.” Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the force via the police website or call 101 quoting reference 21*681861 or, alternatively, call the charity Crimestoppers, anonymous and free from a landline, on 0800 555 111.

I would like to speak to anyone who was travelling along Stephenson Way in the early hours of Tuesday