Police taking action over newbuild boiler thefts

Police officers are marking boilers as part of the operation in the Knaresborough area

Criminal gangs are targeting newbuild estates in North Yorkshire, stealing new boilers from homes which are still being built, according to police.

The North Yorkshire force said in one incident in Knaresborough, earlier this month, more than 20 boilers were stolen from a building site, at a cost of around £300,000.

Thefts of this type are increasingly being seen across the country, with police in the Yorkshire region citing gangs operating along the A1(M) corridor, making newbuild locations close by particularly vulnerable.

Police believe the presence of several large building sites in Knaresborough, where hundreds of new homes are under development, is also a factor.

Inspector Holly Nicholls, from North Yorkshire Police, suggested thieves were part of "organised crime groups"

According to figures from North Yorkshire Police, 68 incidents involving boiler thefts have been recorded since 2023, with almost 70% of those from newbuild sites.

The force said each incident might involve several stolen boilers, not just one.

Insp Holly Nicholls, from North Yorkshire Police, said: "In North Yorkshire, particularly in Knaresborough, we're off the A1 corridor - so we see criminals, organised crime groups, travelling from other police areas, and they are really quite professional.

"They'll ordinarily come and do a recce beforehand, to see which properties they can target. They're trained - so they've probably got some plumbing expertise - [and] they'll have a vehicle so they can get them out really quickly," she added.

Housebuilder Linden Homes, who are building hundreds of new homes on the outskirts of Knaresborough, was targeted by boiler thieves last year.

"April, last year, we had 10 boilers pinched," site manager John McDermott told the BBC.

"Patio doors had been smashed through, front doors had been smashed in, and through the night they had taken 10 boilers - causing a lot of damage.

"It comes at a cost to us because then we have to get plumbers back in, electricians back in...

"Some of the kitchens got replaced," he added.

As well as the damage caused to the properties, he said, in some cases, the thefts had delayed house sales, and even caused some sales to collapse.

Trackers on boilers

This week North Yorkshire Police launched 'Operation Thaw' - with increased patrols on the A1, alongside neighbourhood teams marking boilers with codes - using invisible ink, and an initiative to raise awareness in local communities.

At some sites, builders have also put trackers on new boilers, with signs in property windows warning would-be thieves.

Police have been making residents in Knaresborough aware of the thefts, and asking them report anything suspicious

Martin Narby, who lives on one of the new estates in Knaresborough which has been previously targeted, was pleased to see police on patrol.

"We just moved here a year ago - there's a very healthy Facebook group already where people share advice, so anything which expands on that, where we can share intelligence and information, would be really helpful".

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