Wagtail hunts gate thieves; offers security advice
Officers are appealing for information and offering advice following the theft of gates from fields in the Beningbrough area of Hambleton.
Eight galvanised steel gates were stolen from two farms overnight between Wednesday 6 July and Thursday 7 July 2011.
As the gates were stolen from isolated areas, there is no description of the people or vehicle involved. However, a blue flat-bed style truck, with the name "Chris" painted on the cab, was seen carrying scrap in the area on Wednesday 6 July.
PC Nick Hill, of the Operation Wagtail team based at Northallerton, said: "I am appealing to anyone with information bout these theft of these gates or have seen a truck matching the description of the vehicle seen in the area to contact the police straight away.
"Because a lot of gates used to enclose fields are made from tubular steel, they do not have a very high scrap value. However, the cost and inconvenience of replacing the gates is time consuming and expensive.
"I advise farmers to help deter the opportunistic thieves by securing the gates so that they cannot be quickly lifted off their mounting points. This can be done by welding a 'T' bar at the top of the hinge. Owners can also etch a postcode in a prominent position. This will not only deter criminals but help the police to identify a victim of crime."
If you can assist the investigation please contact PC Nick Hill at Northallerton Police Station on 0845 60 60 24 7 quoting reference number 12110112097. Or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Operation Wagtail was launched in March 2011 and involves officers undertaking proactive patrols across the Hambleton and Richmondshire Safer Neighbourhood Command to prevent people living and working in the area becoming victims of crime.
It builds on other successful rural policing campaigns in the county, such as Operation Jumbo in Selby, which have seen dramatic results with many people brought to justice and significant crime reductions.
2.11pm - 11 July 2011
