Hot tubs stolen in daring lorry raid
THIEVES stole four luxury hot tubs worth tens of thousands of pounds in a night-time operation at a Burton Latimer garden centre.
And the perpetrators even stole gravel and wood from the centre to aid their escape and prevent them getting stuck in the mud.
The incident took place on Thursday night at The Bathroom Studio base at the garden centre, on Cranford Road.
Audrey Neale, managing director of The Bathroom Studio, said: “It’s devastating because we can’t sell more tubs if they are not here, so it’s not just a loss of products, it’s a loss of earnings too.
“They came overnight and we feel it was a planned burglary because they are heavy units.
“The range is insulated so they are heavier than usual and one was filled with water so it would have been a mega weight.
“They must have had it on the back of a lorry and taken it away.”
Mrs Neale said the thieves would probably have used a crane-like piece of machinery to move the hot tubs, which are each worth between 10,000 and 15,000 because of their high-quality specifications.
Another hot tub from the same Sundance range was damaged in the break-in.
Mrs Neale said it was also believed the criminals’ vehicle sank in mud near the centre, as gravel and pieces of wood were stolen and placed on top of the mud.
“They took the gravel and planks of wood to get the vehicle out.
“The vehicle must have sunk, which would have caused them problems.
“If anyone has any information on the burglary, I would urge them to tell the police.”
The Bathroom Studio was set up almost 20 years ago and has another outlet in a centre off Gypsy Lane, in Kettering.
A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said the force was investigating the theft.
Witnesses or anyone with information should call them on 08453 700700.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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