POLICE in Wootton Bassett say they have solved months of crime after recovering stolen hire tools worth £5,000.
The hoard of equipment, which included a cement mixer, disc cutters and chain saws, was discovered when police raided a house in Old Court.
One man remains in police custody, while another man and a woman have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.
Police orchestrated the raid after acting on a tip off and were amazed at what they found.
WPC Karen Ferris, 30, of the pro-active unit, said: "A team raided a property and successfully recovered a large quantity of electrical goods and hardware equipment.
"We are now keen to establish exactly where it came from.
"Some of the items had been stolen from residential properties, but we believe the majority of the equipment had been hired from shops and not taken back. We received information and acted upon it. Officers spent the entire weekend working on the case and it is quite a coup for us.
"We don't think the equipment was stolen from the same place, we believe it was taken from a number of outlets over the past month in and around the Swindon area."
Officers spent more than two hours loading the heavy machinery into waiting vans. Other items in the stash included a compressor, hedge trimmers, a JCB breaker, wheelbarrows, spades, hammer drills, sand and a petrol lawnmower.
Police have stored the equipment at Wootton Bassett police station and are inviting residents and hire firms to come and identify it.
"The property is of all different makes and models," added WPC Ferris.
"If an individual gives us information about a particular item we will check it. A lot of the equipment has markings that mean nothing to us, but would to its owner."
Keith Passant, 47, manager of the Hire Center ((corr)) on Cheney Manor Industrial Estate is hoping some of his shop's stolen equipment turns up.
He said: "We think that the police have two items that were stolen from us recently.
"This sort of thing is a pain in the neck, but it's not the first time it's has happened.
"Thefts from hire shops are common even though the vast majority of customers are genuine.
"These people are very clever and no matter what safeguards are put in place they'll soon find a way round them.
"I'm thoroughly pleased the police have uncovered all this equipment, but I bet the thieves don't get the punishments they deserve."
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