POLICE stations in Kent have experienced nearly 1,000 incidents of theft in the last five years.

Figures obtained by the Kent Messenger Group show that rather distancing themselves from the long arm of the law, thieves have been regularly stealing choice items owned by or being held by police from right under their noses.

Countless amounts of alcohol, drugs, computer equipment, cash, vehicles and even firearms have been taken from police stations across the country, including the force’s headquarters, with 961 incidents between the start of 2003 and the end of 2007.

Kent Police were unable to clarify exactly what and how much was stolen in each instance, or how many of the items have been recovered.

The police headquarters in Maidstone saw the biggest number of thefts, with a total of 265. These included four firearms, weapons or ammunition, 15 items of riding equipment including saddles and tack, 18 handbags and wallets and 31 pieces of scientific equipment.

Maidstone Police Station has lost 101 items, mostly cheques, documentation and motor accessories, while Gravesend experienced 97 thefts, including 11 stolen items of clothing and footwear.

Bicycles and cycling accessories were a popular choice for thieves at Margate police station, which suffered 96 thefts since 2003.

Unusual items swiped included tents and camping equipment from Tonbridge Police Station in 2005, trees and shrubs stolen from Ashford police station in 2004, and an animal was snatched from Tunbridge Wells Police Station in 2003.

The county’s smaller police stations, including those at Paddock Wood, Longport, Meopham and Nackington, managed to avoid being hit and suffered just one incident each in the last five years.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "Kent Police, its officers and staff take every measure possible to protect equipment.

"This includes ensuring that radios and mobiles are security coded and visibly marked wherever possible while laptops containing sensitive information are encrypted to protect data. Other security features are used too.

"In cases where Kent Police clothing and headwear is stolen, if anyone is ever worried about the identity of an officer or somebody claiming to work for the police, then they should ask to see their identification and if still not satisfied they can phone Kent Police to get further confirmation."