Three arrested following thefts of £40,000 worth of plant machinery in Rossendale

Rural Task Force and neighbourhood officers have today, 9 August, executed three warrants and made three arrests on suspicion of Conspiracy to Commit Theft following £40,000 worth of plant machinery being stolen. Two are in custody.

On 17 March 2022, reports were made of a customer account that had been opened with a Rossendale business, with details later found to be fraudulent. Later the same day, the machinery was allegedly stolen from the work site and sold onto unsuspecting buyers, who travelled South none the wiser. The excavator and dumper truck were later located in Bedfordshire, and using specialist tactics were identified as those stolen earlier in March, and returned to the rightful owner.