Stolen Xboxes hit black market

Thieves who stole Xbox consoles worth more than a million pounds from lorries in Lichfield are now attempting to sell the stolen goods on the streets of the West Midlands.

Thieves hijacked a lorry load of £750,000 worth of Xbox consoles on the A38 after it left a distribution depot in Fradley on November 20, the second theft in a week from the Hellmann Worldwide Logistics depot where a £40,000 trailer containing £260,000 of Xbox consoles was also taken.

The consoles, which are in high demand in the weeks leading up to Christmas retail at around £300, but it has been reported that people are now being offered Xboxes for sale on the local black market, with £100 knocked of the price tag.Staffordshire Police spokesman Peter Stevens has warned shoppers to be on their guard.

He said: "We want people to let us know if any one approaches them with one of these stolen consoles.

"We are aware of reports that they are being offered for sale around the Black Country but we believe the consoles have been distribute even further afield.

"We are still investigating if the two thefts at Hellman Logistics are linked."

Hellmann Worldwide Logistics UK managing director Martin Meyer, speaking after the two robberies said an internal review had been launched

Witnesses or anyone with information should call police on 08453 302010.