MORE than 5,000 litres of diesel worth £12,000 were stolen in a raid on business premises in Bishop’s Stortford.
A gang cut a hole in a gate at Connect Scaffolding in Hadham Road last Friday evening (March 4) and used hoses to pump 4,000l (880 gallons) of diesel and 1,200l (264 gallons) of red diesel – used for agricultural and construction purposes – from two storage tanks.
Staff discovered the break-in the next morning. The theft was captured on CCTV. Footage shows a silver Subaru Forester pulling up outside the site at about 8.20pm and then driving away. The 4×4 had stolen number plates which had been taken from a vehicle in Braughing earlier in the day.
It returned later with a white 7.5-ton lorry. Police believe a tank or barrels to hold the stolen diesel were hidden behind the curtain sides of the lorry.
The thieves are thought to have left at about 10.45pm. Security has been stepped up at the site in the wake of the theft.
Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to call Herts police on 0845 3300 222.
Via: www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk