Thieves targeted police stations in Shropshire
A barbecue, rubbish bins, windscreen wipers and clothing are among the items that have been stolen from police stations and vehicles in Shropshire in the past three years.
While the number of crimes was very low – just three offences were recorded in 2012 and one in 2013 – the number of items stolen was much higher.
Police have described the figures as "positive" as they show a decline in the number of reported crimes.
In 2012 West Mercia Police recorded a theft of chemicals from one of its vehicles in Shrewsbury, while garden furniture including a barbecue, dustbins and garden gates were taken from police premises in Telford.
The same year there were various thefts which amounted to vandalism of several police vehicles as items including badges, windscreen wipers, wing mirrors and aerials were removed.
Items of clothing were stolen from police premises in Whitchurch in 2013, although the report emphasised that the clothing did not include underwear.
Abbey Hartley, West Mercia Police spokeswoman, said: "It is positive to see that thefts from police stations and police vehicles in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin are declining.
"We had three offences in 2012 which decreased to just one in 2013 and no offences at all were recorded in 2014. We aim for this to continue into 2015.
"A variety of different items have been stolen with a barbecue being the most unusual.
"Unfortunately, some of the offences were as a result of vandalism being committed on police vehicles where windscreen wipers, wing mirrors and aerials were forcibly removed.
"Incidents like these are taken seriously and those found responsible are made to face the consequences."
Dyfed-Powys Police said there had been no thefts from its property or vehicles in the past three years.
