Police hunt thief who stole 60 maps from bookstore (From The Northern Echo)

Police hunt Durham map thief

5:05pm Thursday 22nd November 2012 in News By Mark Tallentire, Reporter (Durham)

POLICE are hunting a thief with a penchant for stealing maps.

The man, thought to be in his 50s, has stolen more than 60 Ordnance Survey (OS) maps from Waterstones, in Durham City, and is suspected of having stolen more from the book store chain’s branch in Newcastle.

The man took 44 Ordnance Survey (OS) maps, worth a total of £615.56, from the shelves at Waterstones, in Durham City, on Friday, October 19.

He put them into a black bag and left without paying.

Two days later, he stole a further 20 OS maps, worth a total of £159.80, from the same store.

He is believed to have also stolen from Waterstones in Newcastle in the past month.

Police want to speak to the man in these images, taken from CCTV footage.

He is described as white, in his mid 50s, medium to heavy build, 5ft 10ins to 6ft tall, with ginger/grey receding hair, clean shaven and with an anchor tattoo on his hand.

On October 19, he was wearing dark trousers, a camouflage jacket and glasses. On October 21, he was wearing glasses, a brown hat, donkey-style jacket and blue polo shirt.

Anyone with information is asked to call Durham Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.