Cheshire Constabulary itself a victim to crime

Jan 5 2012 Chester Chronicle

A PITBULL terrier, handcuffs and CS gas canisters were among items stolen from Cheshire Constabulary.

This week a Freedom of Information (FOI) response revealed hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of equipment and personal belongings have been stolen from police stations across Britain.

In Cheshire, the police authority had already disclosed that thefts during the last several years included a handset taken from the foyer of a police station, a wallet from an officer and two police officers’ helmets.

Also taken was a pitbull terrier and alcohol seized from members of the public, numerous batons, handcuffs and training CS gas canisters.

The most recent thefts in 2011 were of a £700 mountain bike and a sports bag taken from a police vehicle.

The catalogue of theft from police stations was revealed in an FOI response to the Press Association.

Some of the more bizarre items stolen include a packet of six Sunblest crumpets worth 50p from Priory Road police station in Hull, a fern and green plastic pot taken from Lancashire Police and a small fridge from Dunstable Police Station.

Meanwhile, a £20 mannequin was stolen from Essex Police’s kennels, a thief helped themselves to the £48 tea float from Pontefract Police Station in West Yorkshire and in West Mercia a 20-pack of toilet rolls vanished.

Forces with high-value losses were Greater Manchester (£86,910), Strathclyde (£22,524), Northumbria (£19,858) and Essex (£15,406).

The TaxPayers’ Alliance called for an investigation into the figures.

Campaign director Emma Boon said: “The list of stolen items is truly astonishing and taxpayers will worry that police giving out crime prevention advice can’t seem to avoid being robbed themselves.”