DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses after thieves stole a lorry along with a substantial amount of copper cabling.

The grey and white drop-sided lorry with a hi-ab lift attached was taken from a sub-station on the A228, Sharnal Street, High Halstow, near Rochester, between 7.30pm on Wednesday, February 22, and 7.30am on Thursday, February 23.

Police spokeswoman Tessa Hallet said: "The vehicle was found on the February 23 at West View, Longfield, near Gravesend. It was fitted with a tracker device, which was activated.

"The vehicle was tracked from Ratcliffe Highway, taking the link road onto the A2/M2 towards Gravesend, along Broad Street, into Little Hermitage Lane, and along Shorne Ridgeway.

"It stopped at Lane End in the Gravesend rural area where there is a small industrial unit site. The lorry was later found abandoned in Longfield minus the copper cable".

If anyone has any information regarding the vehicle and its occupants or were in the area of Sharnal Street, or may have seen the vehicle being driven, or saw any movement at the industrial site around 2am on the Thursday morning to contact DC Julie McNeill on 01634 884147.Or you can call Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 111555, calls to Crimestoppers are free and you don’t have to leave your name.