Computers stolen from party HQ

LEADER BELIEVES ‘SUSPICIOUS’ RAID WAS BID TO DISRUPT CAMPAIGNING

A COUNCIL leader has hit out after burglars struck his party’s headquarters and stole their computers and data.

Jason Zadrozny, leader of Ashfield District Council, says the thieves targeted his Ashfield Independents headquarters, on Outram Street in Sutton-in-ashfield, overnight on Saturday.

During the incident, most computers, hard drives, USB sticks and other technology were taken from inside the property.

However, he says cash he had left on his desk was not taken during the incident.

As a result, the council leader believes that the incident was “suspicious” and with the aim to “disable what we are doing and our campaigning”.

The incident has been passed over to Nottinghamshire Police for investigations.

Mr Zadrozny said: “I came into the office on Sunday just after 8am and I was initially kicking and screaming because I thought it had been left in a right pigsty.

“I went to tidy it up and then it started to dawn on me that my computer had gone, that other computers had gone and that the back door was open.

“The confusing thing is that I had cash on my desk which wasn’t taken, but they took all computers, external hard drives, USB drives and even the really old desktop computer we use for the printer.

“It seems to me it was designed to disable what we are doing and our campaigning, as it’s weird to me that they just took these things.

“Police are investigating now – we’ve got all of our data encrypted so nobody will be able to get it, and there isn’t any addresses on information or letters.

“It’s just a bit of an inconvenience more than anything. We’ve lost about 35,000 photographs.

“But within an hour and a half we were back up and running as we have private computers.”

Nottinghamshire Police have confirmed they are investigating reports of a break-in at an Outram Street office.

Inspector Mark Dickson, district commander for Ashfield, said: “We are investigating a break-in at an office in Outram Street, during which computer equipment was stolen.

“We believe the theft took place at some point between 6pm on Friday and early Sunday morning and are appealing for anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious during this time to come forward.

“We recognise the considerable impact burglaries like this can have on businesses and organisations and our county CID team are currently working to review the available evidence and track down the people responsible.”

Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting incident 0158 of October 25.

Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on

0800 555 111.