Tow strap could help investigation into Telford ram raid
Police investigating a bungled ram raid on a cash machine at a Telford College, today issued a photograph of a tow strap found inside the stolen vehicle used.
They are anxious to trace the original owner of the strap in the hope of providing a breakthrough in the investigation.
More than £50,000 damage was caused when a stolen Land Rover Defender was used to smash into a cash machine in the canteen at Telford College of Arts and Technology during the early hours of Wednesday, 13 November.
Although the machine was knocked from its mountings, the would-be thieves were unable to break into it and fled empty-handed.
The incident happened shortly after 5am when the offenders forced the college gates on Haybridge Road and smashed through some sliding doors into the canteen area.
The distinctive looking tow strap was found inside the Land Rover which was stolen a few hours earlier from the drive of a home in Shrewsbury.
Detective Constable Adrian Jones, of the investigating officers, said: “The owner of the vehicle has confirmed it does not belong to him. It is unclear at this stage how the tow strap came to be inside the Land Rover and we appealing for public help.
“We have issued a picture of the strap in the hope that it will be identified and its owner will come forward. We need to know where it was taken from and the date when it was taken or sold.
“It may be that the owners themselves do not realise it has been taken. Finding out more about this strap could provide some very useful information to assist the investigation.”
He said the strap is made from heavy duty cloth and measures about 20 to 30 feet in length.
Information should be forwarded to Telford CID on 101 or to the anonymous Crimestoppers number, 0800 555 111.
