Processors Toolkit

Massive computer chip theft at Heathrow

Graeme Wearden ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 09 Oct 2002 16:37 BST

Police are searching for a gang who stole over £2.6m worth of memory chips in a raid at a warehouse near Heathrow Airport on Monday morning.

The chips had been imported from Korea, and officers believe that the raid -- which believed to have taken place between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. -- was carefully planned.

"The items stolen are a large quantity of computer memory chips and it would be difficult to dispose of this quantity without already having plans in place," said detective chief inspector Rupert Hollis of Heathrow CID, according to BBC Online.

The chips were stored in 290 boxes, which it is thought were loaded into a white box van. This van was accompanied by a second light-blue vehicle, possibly a Ford people carrier.

Police believe the computer industry may be able to help them solve the crime.

"I would ask everyone in the computer industry to contact police if they have any information about this theft or if they get offered memory chips from unusual sources or at cut price," Hollis said. Anyone with information on the raid can either contact Heathrow CID on 020 8897 7412 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Last summer, around £3m worth of mobile phones were stolen from a warehouse near Heathrow.

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