Crimewatch broadcast boosts police investigation

CCTV footage that captures two men breaking into a business in Barrow and making off with laptop computers was aired on Crimewatch last night, and officers say that the broadcast has opened up 'new and promising' lines of enquiry.

On Thursday 19th March at 7.15pm two men entered James Fisher (Shipping Services) Limited in Barrow-in-Furness whilst staff were on site. They entered an office and stole several laptops before being disturbed by the caretaker. One of the males threatened the caretaker with a screwdriver before making off.

Prior to this incident two men matching the same descriptions were disturbed by the caretaker of Furness Building Society in Barrow before again making off from the scene.

On Tuesday 25 March 2009 at 6.30pm two males matching the same description entered St James Primary School in Barrow whilst children were still on premises and stole five laptops worth £2500. When they were challenged by children as they left the premises, they posed as computer technicians working at the school before fleeing the scene.

Barrow officers DC Alarna Butcher and DI Dave Banks travelled to Crimewatch's London studios to help respond to the many calls that flood in from the public during the programme.

DI Dave Banks said: "Once the CCTV footage was aired, we received a number of phonecalls from people offering us information that open up new lines of enquiry - both locally and further afield.

"This is very unusual for burglaries to involve threats to individuals which is why we are so keen to track this pair down. It is thought that these two men may be linked to similar burglaries across the North West of England so we are hoping that some of the nuggets of information we received last night will lead us to the suspects. I would like to appeal to anyone who thinks they recognise either of the men in the footage to contact me so we can speak to the men and rule them out of our enquiries. We need your help to bring the offenders to justice."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cumbria Police on 0845 33 00 247 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. See here for more photos.