Raids carried out across region in £900k theft investigation

Police have charged six suspects as part of an investigation into a suspected rural theft and burglary conspiracy worth nearly a million pounds.

Large amounts of plant and agricultural machinery, pick-up trucks, vans and power tools were stolen over a two-year period.

More than £910,000 worth of items were taken in total during a series of large-scale thefts and commercial burglaries across the East Midlands region.

Properties in the Rushcliffe and Gedling areas of Nottinghamshire were among those targeted, between April 2020 and June 2022.

Nottinghamshire Police and Lincolnshire Police launched an extensive joint investigation to track down and catch those responsible.

As part of this, warrants were carried out at six properties, at the same time yesterday morning (3 May) by officers from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire.

These synchronised warrants targeted six different addresses in Newark, Screveton and East Bridgford, in Nottinghamshire, and Dunham on Trent, in Lincolnshire.

Six suspects were all arrested and later charged with conspiracy to commit theft and conspiracy to commit burglary.

The suspects, who have been linked to 65 different offences between them, are listed below:

• Dominic Alderton, 35, of Devon Road, Newark
• Aaron Booth, 24, of Occupation Lane, East Bridgford
• Gary Self, 56, of Coneygrey Spinney, Newark
• Stefan Ward, 31, of Vessey Close, Newark
• Colin Warriner, 35, of Dunham Road, Newton on Trent
• John Watson, 35, of Flintham Lane, Screveton

Each of the six suspects are due to appear before Lincoln Magistrates’ Court today (4 May).

Detective Inspector Dave Harrop, from Lincolnshire Police, said: “Rural crime is one of our force priorities and an important focus for Lincolnshire Police. We have invested in dedicated resources, including our Rural Crime Action Team, to investigate and bring organised criminals to justice.

“We arrested six people in partnership with our forces and they have today been charged. Investigations are ongoing.” 

Detective Sergeant Rich Kinsey, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This extensive investigation has involved close collaboration between multiple police forces, with a dedicated team of detectives focusing solely on rural crime.

“We are pleased to have now charged six suspects in relation to this case.

“The theft of vehicles, plant and agricultural machinery can have an absolutely debilitating impact on local businesses and on people’s livelihoods.

“This crime series resulted in almost a million pounds worth of equipment being stolen from a number of different commercial addresses across the region over a two-year period.

“We fully appreciate just how much tackling rural crime means to our communities, which is precisely why we dedicate so many resources to deter this type of offending and catch anyone found to have committed a crime.

“The force takes every report we receive extremely seriously and carries out regular patrols and targeted operations in a bid to crackdown on rural crime offences.

“If you have been a victim of rural crime or know someone who has, please get in contact with us by calling 101, so that we can fully investigate and ensure those responsible are brought before the courts.”

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