Man admits stealing a lorry trailer loaded up with children’s make-up products worth £86,000 near Lutterworth
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A man has admitted stealing a lorry trailer loaded up with children’s make-up products worth £86,000 from a Harborough district industrial estate.
Stephen Richards, 35, was spotted by an eagle-eyed witness hooking up the trailer to a lorry cab and speeding off from the Trout Transport compound in Bilton Way, Lutterworth.
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Hide AdRichards struck at about 2am on Monday May 24 under cover of darkness.
The quick-thinking eye-witness immediately alerted the police.
Richards was arrested just 30 minutes later after a full-scale 999 operation was launched as armed police and the force helicopter were scrambled.
The thief was stopped by police on the A5 near the Warwickshire border.
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Hide AdRichards, of Britannia Road, Wolverhampton, appeared at Leicester magistrates’ court.
He admitted theft, driving otherwise in accordance with a driving licence and driving without insurance.
Richards will be sentenced at Leicester Crown Court next month.
Det Insp Charles Edwards, of Leicestershire Police, said after Richards was arrested: “This result shows the great teamwork by all those involved.
“That initial call from a witness led to the arrest within half-an-hour and we’d like to thank them for their assistance.”