Back where they belong

9:04am Thursday 24th January 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

POLICE have reunited theft victims with their stolen property - with help from The Press.

We told earlier this month how police found an "Aladdin's cave" of stolen goods when they raided a house in York.

Officers appealed for the owners of the property to come forward and claim it.

Now 12 people have been given back items which they believed may have been lost forever.

Sergeant Neil Wood, of York Police, said: "Up to now we have now identified property from 12 thefts from vehicles and burglaries.

"As a result of The Press we have been able to return property to another five or six victims. That's a really good result."

Police found 22 watches, nine boxes of tools, six bicycles, two kegs of Cobra beer, one keg of Kingfisher beer, a bunch of keys, several cameras, jewellery, cases full of CDs and a Mackintosh hipflask when they carried out a warrant at an address in Sowerby Road.

Officers asked us to print an image of a couple from one of the stolen digital cameras, in the hope that someone would recognise them.

They have now come forward and given a statement to the police.

Sgt Wood said: "They were pleased to get their camera back and it's another offence that we can charge someone with as a result."

Police are unable to charge someone with the theft of an item if it has not been reported stolen in the first place.

Among the items which have been given back to their owners are tool boxes, jewellery and cameras.

If you believe any of the stolen property may belong to you phone 0845 6060247.