Officers link two digger ram-raids
A ram-raid at a Shrewsbury industrial estate in which a gang used a digger is being linked to a similar incident in Worcestershire in which a "substantial" amount of cash was stolen.
A ram-raid at a Shrewsbury industrial estate in which a gang used a digger is being linked to a similar incident in Worcestershire in which a "substantial" amount of cash was stolen.
Detective Sergeant Mark Hill the "professional" gang which targeted an industrial unit in Lancaster Road in March was still being sought by officers.
He said one line of inquiry was whether the attack was linked to one in Worcestershire, which happened within weeks of the Shrewsbury incident, at a similar site and involved a similar digger.
Mr Hill said: "It's a professional gang. It was obviously well-planned and well organised.
"The one down in Worcestershire was where a substantial amount of cash was taken from a similar unit and occurred within weeks of the Shrewsbury one.
"Certainly within our force area it's an unusual incident, with a JCB used to knock a wall down. It's also a specific JCB with an extendable arm on it and there appears to be some similarities with the equipment with the one used down in Worcestershire."
The incident in Shrewsbury happened just after 7pm on March 16.
Police today issued a fresh appeal for help to trace the gang which used a yellow JCB digger which had been stolen from a Persimmon Homes development in Ditherington Road at about 5.30pm on the same day.
It is thought the JCB would probably have been driven along Ditherington Road, Mount Pleasant Road and then right into Lancaster Road. Police believe a getaway car was also used in the failed break-in.
Anybody with any information should call 0300 333 3000.