kent-england/”>Kent’s Rural Task Force struck hard, seizing suspected stolen goods Worthworth Overover £80,000 in a two-day blitz across Swale. The haul included caravans, vehicles, and copper cabling, with one suspected copper thief arrested.
Copper Cable Sting in Minster
The operation kicked off after a late-night tip-off on 18 September 2025. Police were called to an industrial site in Minster where copper cables were reported stolen. A swift search near scotland/”>scotland/Newingtonnewington-scotland/”>newington-scotland/”>Newington uncovered copper cables worth around £7,000. A 27-year-old man was arrested in connection with the theft.
Lee Craddock, head of security at UK Power Networks, warned: “Tampering with electricity equipment is dangerous and disruptive for our communities. We’ve worked closely with Kent Police to track down stolen cables from generators serving Isle of Sheppey residents and an arrest was made.”
Stolen Machinery and Caravans Recovered
The task force wasn’t done. On the same day, they seized a Bobcat excavator stolen from Ashford back in January 2024. They also recovered two caravans from a Bobbing site – one reported stolen in guildford/”>Guildford in 2021, the other from Much Wenlock in July 2025.
A quad bike and a Kubota digger, both believed stolen, were also found at the location. Three suspects are currently under investigation.
Cracking Down on Rural Crime
Sergeant Ross Haybourne hailed the success, revealing that since January 2024, the task force has seized over £3.5 million worth of stolen goods across Kent.
“We’re hunting down stolen plant, farm machinery, caravans and leisure vehicles. Our mission is clear – protect rural businesses and residents from crooks and bring offenders to justice,” he said.
Kent Police urge the public to report any suspicious activity around electricity equipment and rural properties to help keep communities safe.
