Police in West Leeds are appealing to identify the owners of power tools recovered in an ongoing investigation targeting organised theft from vans
Eight men have been arrested and three men from Bramley have been charged.
Operation Dressland, which is being led by Leeds District Intelligence Unit, was set up to tackle an increase in crimes targeting tradespeople and the handling of stolen goods
Officers have executed a series of warrants during the operation that has led to the recovery of more than 200 items of tools and equipment, some of which have been returned to owners.
Nathan Furnisse, aged 30, of Broadlea View, Bramley, and Michael Thompson, aged 36, of Fairfield Hill, Bramley, were arrested in November and have both been charged with conspiracy to commit theft from motor vehicles between July 23 and October 24 last year. They are due for trial at Leeds Crown Court on May 22.
Joseph James, aged 39, of Rycroft Gardens, Bramley, was arrested in December and has been charged with theft from motor vehicle in relation to an offence in Alwoodley in October. He is next at court on July 5.
Five other men have been arrested and remain under investigation.
Police are keen to trace the owners of the tools captured in the photo above.
Anyone who recognises any of the items as being theirs is asked to contact the investigation team via email to ld.dressland@westyorkshire.police.uk quoting the image reference number and providing their details and any details of the theft, such as a crime reference number or the location, date and time of the offence.
While the team is continuing to progress the investigation, they are encouraging tradespeople to keep a record of the serial numbers of power tools, mark their property, both overtly and with forensic solutions, and consider using other security measures such as GPS trackers that can be hidden in boxes.
Get in touch online via the police’s live chat system.