RESIDENTS may have witnessed the theft of a forklift truck from a building site without realising what was happening.
Police are appealing for witnesses after the vehicle, which is worth £20,000, was stolen from the West Park building site, in West Auckland Road, Shildon, sometime between 5pm on Tuesday and 8.10am on Wednesday.
The truck had the Caterpillar logo on its side and its registration number is A748 PNE.
PC Waheed Mughal, from Shildon police, said he believes a low loader may have been used to take the truck and this will have been seen at some point as it passed homes in West Auckland Road or elsewhere on route.
He said: "The compound where the forklift was stored is part of a huge site where houses are being built. It is only a short distance from the A1 motorway and it is possible someone may have seen the vehicle being transported and thought little of it at the time."
Witnesses are asked to contact PC Mughal on 0845 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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