CCTV hopes in manhunt for wheel raiders

Mick Slater, boss at Slater’s Service Centre in Holly Road, Thornton, was shocked when he discover CCTV footage of the incident which happened over the bank holiday weekend.

The crystal-clear images show men in an Irish-registered Ford Transit pull up outside the business.

A number of men get out of the van and load up four specialist Land Rover wheels before driving away.

The wheels. taken from the business on the Red Marsh Industrial Estate, were valued at £700.

But for Mr Slater the financial loss is only one part of the story.

He said: “I came in to work on Saturday morning and one of the staff mentioned he’d seen someone acting suspiciously.

“I checked the CCTV and was amazed to see this.

“There’s three guys who pull up in a Transit, they spend some time having a look around.

“They act like they own the place.

“The CCTV is spotless, it’s clear as day.

“We want to get the message out that people are not going to stand for this.

“People will see it as just a set of wheels, it’s about more than that.

“The community will not tolerate this. Businesses will not let this happen.

“People who behave in this way are not welcome around here.”

Mr Slater said he is yet to hear back from police having provided them with the CCTV.

Officers today issued an appeal for witnesses in connection with the incident, which happened at around 8.40pm on Friday June 3.

A police spokesman said: “At around 10.30am on June 4 we received reports of a theft from an address in Holly Road, Thornton.

“Suspects have approached an MOT and service centre in a Transit van.

“They have gained access on the site and taken four specialist wheels before making off.”

Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting reference WD1603419.