Man arrested in van full of suspected stolen machinery

A Durham man has been arrested in a van full of suspected stolen building site machinery in North Yorkshire.
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At 8.20pm on Thursday, September 24, North Yorkshire Police officers on patrol near Knaresborough spotted a red Peugeot Boxer van in suspicious circumstances.

The van was brought to a stop near the roundabout of the A59 and A658, east of the town.

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When officers opened it up, they found a generator, wacker plate, cutting saw and other plant machinery inside.

A man from Durham has been arrested in the van full of suspected stolen machineryA man from Durham has been arrested in the van full of suspected stolen machinery
A man from Durham has been arrested in the van full of suspected stolen machinery

The driver and sole occupant of the van – a 41-year-old man from Durham – was arrested on suspicion of theft.

He was released on bail with a condition not to enter North Yorkshire.

Inquiries are ongoing to identify the rightful owner of the equipment found in the van. It is suspected to have been stolen from construction sites in the local area.

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A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “Building sites and compounds – particularly those in rural areas or isolated areas – are, by their nature, vulnerable and attractive targets for criminals.

“That’s why it’s important to take extra security measures. Wherever possible, keep vehicles, plant and power tools in a secure and well-lit area, preferably a garage or outbuilding. Consider CCTV, fuel cap alarms, cages and other security measures.

“Even simple techniques like ‘defensive parking’ – parking vehicles close to solid objects to prevent access – can have a strong deterrent effect.

“Also, get your property security-marked. Permanent marking, like a ‘dot peen’ mark, may deter thieves, as it makes the equipment far harder to sell on.”

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