Railway Equipment Stolen
On or around Friday 25 July a number of train parts, including wheels and axles, were stolen from a factory on Fauld Industrial Estate, Fauld Lane, Tutbury in Burton-upon-Trent.
The brand new parts are valued at £46,000 and were awaiting fixing to trains.
Offenders also stole metal piping from the same location.
Sgt Jim Perry, from Operation Amalgam, said: "It is suspected that these have been stolen as scrap metal to be weighed in at scrap yards in the Staffordshire or Derbyshire areas.
"Officers from Operation Amalgam are appealing for witnesses to these thefts, or anyone with information that may be of use to police, to please come forward."
The dedicated team of officers, based at Kidsgrove police station, are also investigating a number of thefts of railway equipment from private steam railways across the Staffordshire Moorlands.
In recent months a number of thefts have occurred at Cheddleton, Froghall and Churnet Valley railways.
The thefts generally occur overnight, and thousands of pounds worth of equipment has been stolen including track, wheels and engine parts.
"We are again appealing for anyone with information on these thefts to come forward," added Sgt Perry.
Operation Amalgam was set up in April by officers in the North Staffordshire Division to tackle scrap metal thefts, and will run until at least October.
To date more than 70 people have been arrested in connection with scrap metal thefts, and property to the value of more than £500,000 has been seized.
Anyone with information on the train parts thefts is asked to contact the Operation Amalgam team on 08453 302010 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
*A 27-year-old man from Knutton was arrested in Newcastle yesterday, Sunday 17 August, in connection with the theft of grid covers and manhole covers. A vehicle was also seized by officers.
The man was released on police bail pending further enquiries.
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