A search for a drill led to the discovery of more than 3,500 suspected stolen power tools - and police are trying to get them back to their owners.

Signals from a tracking device attached to a stolen drill led officers to stolen tools worth more than £1 million, six caravans and a quad bike. Some of the items are from Sussex and police want people who have had such goods stolen to get in touch.

A 17-year-old boy, five men aged between 18 and 44, and a 19-year-old woman have all been arrested on suspicion of theft offences after the find at an address in Swattenden, Kent on April 26.

Police want to give the tools back to their owners, and are encouraging them to look at the pictures and list below to see if their property has been recovered.

Some of the tools found in a shipping containerSome of the tools found in a shipping container (Image: Kent Police)

What items have been recovered?

Tools from big-name brands such as Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee, Bosch, Hitachi and Stihl have all been found by police.

These include:

  • Drills and impact drivers
  • Saws
  • Angle grinders
  • Multi tools
  • Nail guns
  • Generators
  • Disc cutters
  • Hand tools
  • Garden power tools
  • Laser levels
  • Batteries and chargers
  • Radios
  • Other miscellaneous electrical tools/items

 

To claim an item, applicants need to email Op.Thames@kent.police.uk with either proof of purchase, serial numbers, or details of unique identifying features.

If the item has been reported stolen, the crime reference number or date and location of the theft should also be provided.

The email address will remain open until midnight on Sunday, July 21.

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Gardening equipment was among the items foundGardening equipment was among the items found (Image: Kent Police)

All seven of the people arrested in connection with the find have been released on bail pending further enquiries.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "The victim of a theft of power tools, who had previously been targeted by thieves, attached trackers to their tools.

"A tracker on a stolen drill led officers from Kent Police’s Rural Task Force to obtain and execute a warrant, assisted by colleagues from Thames Valley Police, at an address in Swattenden.

"In the search for the tracked item, officers uncovered a large haul of suspected stolen goods, including a quad bike confirmed to be stolen from Ashford, and six caravans stolen from locations nationwide including Bristol, Wales, Southampton, Staffordshire and Sussex."