More than £250,000 of industrial equipment and vehicles stolen from different parts of the country have been seized in a raid in Thundersley.

Detectives acting on a tip-off struck gold when they visted an undisclosed industrial estate.

Recovered - Chief Insp Dave King surveys the stolen equipment Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

Ten police officers from the recently formed Proactive Community Unit (PCU) were executing a search warrant when the industrial equipment and vehicles were found. The haul included dumper trucks, diggers, trailers, generators, motorcycles, pick-up trucks, off road vehicles and a temporary lighting tower - stolen from the A130 roadworks - which together cost in excess of £250,000.

Sgt Ian Collins, of PCU based at Rayleigh, said: "This was an excellent result."

Some of the property has already been identified and will be returned to its rightful owners in due course.

A 31-year-old man has been arrested and is on police bail awaiting further investigations.

Published Monday, January 27, 2003

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