Police Seek Witnesses to Oaklands College Theft

POLICE are appealing for information and witnesses after a number of items of plant machinery were stolen from the Smallford Campus of Oaklands College earlier this week.

It is believed the incident took place between 10.45pm and 11.45pm on Monday. The offender(s) gained access to the campus by removing a 1.5 tonne bollard from the front gate and drove onto the property in a large articulated lorry. They then loaded a number of plant equipment onto the lorry and drove away.

The lorry was described as having bright orange lights on the top.

The items stolen include:

- Verti Drain

- Llyods Lawnmower

- Cambridge metal roller

- Mid-sized metal roller

- Tractor mounted loop

Detective Sergeant Nina Winfield from the St Albans Local Crime Unit said:

“This was a brazen crime. The offenders have used a large vehicle in order to take a number of expensive items belonging to the college who are obviously keen to have them returned. I would appeal to anyone who was in the area and may have witnessed this incident to contact me at the earliest opportunity. Did you see the offenders removing the bollard or the lorry parked in the area? You might have thought this seemed out of the ordinary but didn’t realise a crime was in progress."

Those who might have seen something are asked to contact Detective Sergeant Winfield on the Herts Police non-emergency number, which is 0845 33 00 222. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers, the independent charity, on 0800 555 111.