Appeal for witnesses to spree of criminal damage incidents and thefts

Hello Resident,

We are appealing for witnesses to a spree of criminal damage incidents and thefts in Newbury.

At around 2am on Friday 17 April, two men stole a red and black emergency escape hammer from one of the buses they broke into at the Newbury & District Bus Depot on Mill Lane. 

The offenders then went on foot on Boundary Road, Hambridge Road, Racecourse Bridge, and Newbury Racecourse Car Park, smashing windows of multiple vehicles and a commercial shop front. They also stole three chainsaws from a van parked on Northway: a Stihl 661, a Husqvarna 560xp, and a Stihl 194.

Both offenders are described as approximately 18-22 years-old, around 5ft 8ins tall, of average build, and wearing a dark coloured hoodie with the hood up. One was also wearing dark coloured jogging bottoms with a white strip on the side of the leg and black trainers with white detailing. The other was also wearing dark coloured jogging bottoms and white trainers.

We will not tolerate this behaviour in Newbury or anywhere else in our patch as numerous victims have been left to pick up the pieces left behind. We are doing everything we can to serve those victims by finding those responsible and bringing them to justice but we need the public’s support so please send any information, images or footage to us.

Any witnesses or anyone with information should call 101, make a report on our website or visit a police station, quoting reference number 43260185974.

Anyone with CCTV or video doorbells in the areas affected, or any drivers with dashcams who were driving there at the time, should check their recordings in case they captured anything that could help us. 

Any relevant footage, or other videos or images, can be sent to the investigation team directly via this dedicated online portal.

Alternatively, provide information to us anonymously via independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via its website.

Kind regards,