BAE Systems worker quits job in Samlesbury after probe into theft worth 'thousands' linked to dark web
An investigation, thought to have been launched more than one year ago, tracked the activities of an employee thought to be removing specialist carbide equipment from the site.
A member of staff at BAE Systems has been allowed to resign - rather than be dismissed - despite a company investigation finding he had stolen ‘thousands of pounds’ worth of equipment from the business.
The male employee, who cannot be named, was working for BAE Systems at its site in Samlesbury.
An investigation, thought to have been launched more than one year ago, tracked the activities of an employee thought to be removing specialist carbide equipment from the site, Lancashire Lead writes.
These can trade for around £1,000 each in the current market.
The purpose of the internal investigation was to identify who was responsible for the missing equipment and to build evidence.
A well placed source claimed well over £1m of equipment was taken from the site over a long period of time before the business confronted the employee – although what was discovered was greater than what was expected.
However BAE Systems, in response, disputed the figure and described the items as ‘low value’, saying the theft was “valued in thousands of pounds”.
The firm, which has two Lancashire bases in Samlesbury and Warton and sees staff working across both sites, also stressed that it was an isolated incident involving one individual.
It was agreed the individual in question would be allowed to resign from his position.
This is despite it being suspected that the items taken are suspected to have been sold on the dark web with their ultimate destination unclear, although they could equally have been weighed in for scrap at considerably less value than they trade for.
When some equipment was eventually discovered inside a bucket in a van on site, it was so heavy that it could not be lifted by one individual.
It is understood there was discussion about whether to alert the police to suspected crime having taken place at all.
But the report was ultimately made in March 2026. No arrests have been made.
A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “The theft was reported to us in March of this year and enquiries are ongoing. No arrests have been made at this time.”
A spokesman for BAE Systems said: "This is an isolated incident which is subject to an ongoing police matter. It would be inappropriate to comment further."