Thursday 6 November 2008

Police are warning the public about buying second-hand laptops after a number were stolen in recent break-ins at local schools.

Thieves stole 15 laptops from Musters Road Infants School in West Bridgford between 1745hrs on Monday 3 November and 0545hrs on Tuesday 4 November, while 20 laptops were stolen from Lynncroft Primary School in Eastwood at around 1950hrs last night (Wednesday 5 November).

Two more schools, one in Bramcote and one in Nuthalll, also suffered attempted break-ins last night.

Ch Insp Dave Bombroffe, of South Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We want to hear from anyone who is offered a second-hand laptop in unusual circumstances, because it may have been stolen. Schools regularly security-mark their property, and we will be able to identify where it is from.

“If you do buy a second-hand laptop and it is stolen property, it will not only be confiscated but you will lose the money you spent on it. You could also find yourself arrested for handling stolen goods.

“At this stage, we have not established a definite link between these burglaries but we are not ruling out the possibility. Witnesses to the attempted break-in at the school in Nuthall have described seeing four males in a maroon Ford Mondeo.

“We want to hear from anyone who saw a vehicle matching this description in the Nuthall area last night, as well as from anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in or around these schools. These thieves have denied local children access to a key part of their educational development.”

Anyone with any information about these burglaries, or the whereabouts of the laptops, should contact Nottinghamshire Police on 0115 9670999.

Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.