£15k of stolen tools returned to rightful owners by Wolverhampton police in just ONE evening

Officers at Bilston Police station gathered around £30,000 worth of stolen equipment, ranging from lawnmowers to chainsaws and disc cutters, and asked members of the public to come forward and collect it.

More than 130 items were on display for anyone with a matching crime reference number to collect, from personal goods to business equipment.

A local family business, Bilston Lawnmower Services, was reunited with 15 lawnmowers worth just under £10,000, allowing staff to get back to work after being ransacked by thieves.

Owner Pete Jones said: "We are delighted to have had these items returned, it really takes a lot off our minds.

"They belonged to customers, who we were carrying out repairs for, so not only did them being taken stop us making money, we could have found ourselves in trouble with loyal customers.

"I haven't got everything back that was taken but something is better than nothing and I wouldn't have it back if it wasn't for this.

"I am extremely grateful to the police for helping me out."

Dc Gary Thompson, who was overseeing the evening, said seeing people given their property back was a 'rewarding' experience and that the force had been stepping up attempts to find people who are in possession of stolen goods.

He said: "This is the second property open evening we have put together and so far the idea has been extremely successful.

"We have been actively targeting handlers of stolen property.

"We would like to return as much property as possible to people, there are still some items that haven't been collected and we want to see those back with their rightful owners.

"The people who do turn up are delighted to come and collect their stuff and it is rewarding to give it back to them.

"A lot of it is business equipment, so that is especially important because when people are dependant on these items to make a living, it puts so much pressure on them if they are taken."