Hartlepool police issue warning as thieves attempt to sell stolen meat

Officers in Hartlepool are warning anyone offered meat for sale by unknown sellers to be vigilant and inform police.

Following a spate of burglaries to small supermarket in the town - the most recent was a shop on Murray Street on Tuesday 16 April - it has been reported that thieves have been attempting to sell meat suspected to have been stolen during these break-ins to other small businesses such as takeaways.

Crime prevention officer Steve Davies said: “Never buy from people you do not recognise as official sales reps. If you are not sure where the items you are buying have come from, they may be stolen, and you could be at risk of committing an offence of handling stolen goods.

“If food items are stolen, they are unlikely to have been stored appropriately and are unlikely to be fit for human consumption.

“Please decline of you are offered such items, make a note of the people trying to sell the goods to you and call police on 101 as soon as you can.”