Police looking to reunite stolen gates with owner (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Police looking to reunite stolen gates with owner

6:20pm Monday 11th April 2011 in News

IT is not the usual stolen item that police have to reunite with its owner.

Normally it is a power drill or a pushbike.

Winchester police have a set of wrought iron gates and five aluminium milk churns, recently recovered in a raid on Thursday, March 31 at Upham near Bishop’s Waltham.

PC Stuart Turner, of Winchester Priority Crime Team, said: "This warrant was executed as part of our ongoing effort to stamp out thefts from the local rural community. Numerous articles have been seized by officers that are believed to have been stolen and we are keen to find their owners.

“We don’t normally get wrought iron gates. They are quite distinctive, with red roses and gold spikes on the top.”

The raid in Alma Lane, in which a 30-year-old man was arrested, was conducted by officers from the Priority Crime Team, the Safer Neighbourhoods Team and Countrywatch.

The man has been released on bail until May 26.

Anyone with information about rural theft should contact Winchester police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.