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From the
http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/feb/24/ukcrime 24 February 2006.
Police find raid cash in van.
Police investigating Britain's biggest-ever cash raid tonight
confirmed some of the money had been found in a van in a Kent hotel car
park.
The assistant chief constable of Kent police, Adrian Leppard, who is
leading the hunt for the gunmen who raided the security depot in
Tonbidge, Kent, on Tuesday night, said it was not yet known how much
money had been discovered in the van, which was recovered outside the
Ashford International Hotel after police received a tip-off from a
member of the public.
Mr Leppard also said three people arrested in connection with the
robbery, thought to have netted the raiders up to £50m in new and used
bank notes, had all been released on police bail.
"We can confirm a quantity of cash has been found in the vehicle, but
it is too early to speculate on how much," Mr Leppard said tonight. "We
are linking this to the robbery at the Securitas depot in Tonbridge, but
we cannot say yet how significant the find is. "The vehicle and its
contents are now being examined for forensic evidence. This is a lengthy
and thorough process and until this is completed we will not be in a
position to give further information." Photos broadcast by Sky News
showed two officers in white forensic suits removing a very large object
wrapped in plastic sheeting. They appeared to struggle under the weight
of the object, and a second photo showed two large objects wrapped in
plastic on the ground alongside the van. Mr Leppard said a police
hotline set up in the aftermath of the robbery had received over 400
calls and reiterated that there was a £2m reward for information about
who carried out the raid.
Earlier, two e-fits of the man who posed as a police officer to trick
the manager of the depot were released after detectives announced they
had arrested a third person in connection with the robbery.
The people released tonight on bail included a 41-year-old woman who
had been detained on suspicion of handling stolen goods at a building
society in Bromley, south-east London, yesterday.
The woman had been trying to deposit bundles of cash bearing
Tonbridge markings at the Portman Building Society when staff alerted
police.
A 29-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman detained yesterday at two
separate addresses in Forest Hill, south-east London, on suspicion of
conspiracy to commit robbery have also been released pending further
inquiries.
Earlier, Mr Leppard said the manager of the Tonbridge depot and his
family had been left traumatised by the events.
Colin Dixon, his wife Lynn and their son Craig were kidnapped during
the raid. Today is Craig's ninth birthday.
Speaking at a press conference at Kent police headquarters in
Maidstone, Mr Leppard pledged to protect witnesses who may be able to
offer information about the robbery.
He urged those "around the edge" of the crime who knew who was
responsible to come forward. He said: "You may be fearful about ringing
in but I urge you to do so. We will look after you."
He also urged members of the public to report any suspicious
activities. "We have callous professional gangsters that we need to
catch," he said. "We are going to bring these people to book and we need
your help to do so."
Police announced the discovery last night of the Volvo saloon car
they believe was used by the gang to abduct Mr Dixon.
The car, which had been set on fire, was found in the village of
Leeds, near Maidstone, around midnight. Officers were alerted by
firefighters called to deal with the burning vehicle.
Mr Leppard said this was significant as it meant members of the gang
were still in the local area last night.
Mr Dixon's silver Nissan Almera, which had been abandoned outside the
"Cock Horse Inn"
in Detling, near Maidstone, when he was abducted, was also recovered.
Scores of crime officers are carrying out forensic examinations of
the two vehicles and a van thought to have also been used in the
abduction of Mr Dixon and his family.
The van, believed to be a former Parcel Force vehicle, was found
abandoned at the "Hook and Hatchet" pub in Hucking, also near Maidstone.
Police said the most important vehicle, the white Renault lorry used
to take the cash from the depot, was still missing. It was captured on
CCTV.
The armed gang, consisting of at least six people, stole up to £50m
in new and used notes in the Wednesday morning raid on the Tonbridge
security depot.
The robbery began when members of the gang dressed as police officers
flagged down Mr Dixon as he drove home on Tuesday night.
He was taken to a rural location and then driven to the depot in a
dark vehicle.
Other gang members also posing as police officers kidnapped his wife
and son from their home in Herne Bay, threatening to kill them unless he
cooperated.
They were driven to somewhere near Faversham, Kent, before being put
in the back of a red van and taken to a building in a rural area.
From there they were put in the back of a white van and taken to the
depot where 14 other members of staff were bound and held at gunpoint
while the gang loaded the cash into a truck.
A police expert worked with the manager of the depot to compile the
e-fit of the gang member who wore a police-style hat and high visibility
jacket.
He is described as white, around 6ft tall, with a scruffy ginger
beard that could have been false because it was a different colour from
his hair. He had freckles on his cheeks and dark eyebrows.
Securitas and its insurers yesterday offered a £2m reward for
information leading to the capture of the gang - one of the biggest
rewards in criminal history.
Detectives hope it will persuade those on the periphery of the
robbery, which is believed to have involved a large number of people, to
come forward.
The 100-strong Kent police team is working with Scotland Yard, the
National Crime Squad and the National Criminal Intelligence Service to
try to catch the gang before they leave the country.
Officers have already received more than 400 calls from members of
the public, which are being followed up by detectives.
Police have not confirmed exactly how much money was stolen, and
examinations of the depot by forensic experts have delayed attempts by
Securitas to establish the amount.
Anyone with information should contact the Kent police incident room
on 01622 652361 or 01622 652366. |
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