Police hunt owners of thousands of pounds of tools stolen in the Ringwood and Fordingbridge areas

POLICE are hoping to reunite a seized haul of thousands of pounds of stolen tools with their owners.

More than 50 items were found stashed in the back of a Vauxhall van pulled over by officers in Fordingbridge in the early hours of 8th October.

The van had reportedly been stolen from an address in Christchurch in August.

Officers said 19 of the tools, with a value totalling over £7,000, had already been returned to owners.

“We suspect that these items were stolen between 6th-7th October, somewhere in and around the areas of Fordingbridge and Ringwood,” it said.

James William (54), of Holloway Avenue, Bournemouth, is due to face trial at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on 12th May 2025 in connection with the incident.

Anyone who believes any of the remaining stolen tools might belong to them should contact the Hampshire force via orlo.uk/here_K0Od6 or call 101, asking to speak to officer 16170.