FIVE people have been arrested after an articulated lorry containing a large quantity of electrical goods was stolen from an address on a trading estate in Sittingbourne on September 9.

The lorry, containing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of ‘D-Link’ wireless Internet routers, was later recovered in an area of North London but routers, valued at around £50 each, were gone.

Police are now warning consumers to be aware that many of these routers could still be on sale after sales of the items were traced to an Internet auction site. Police say nyone buying a router in this manner should be aware of a range of marks, which could indicate that the product might be stolen.

Det Con Freddie Elspass Collins said: “D-link do supply the UK market with a very similar router but this, of course, has a three pin plug.

"Buyers on the internet interested in purchasing a D-Link router should ask the seller of the item to clarify whether the unit has a two or three pin plug.

"Another way to tell the two routers apart is to check the UPC code, which is on a label on the side of the box.

"This label is white and contains the serial number of the model and the UPC code (top right hand corner of the label). The UK model will show the code as BEU whilst the European model will read EEU."

Police are appealing for any further information leading to the recovery of the stolen items. Anyone who can help is asked to contact DC Elspass-Collins at Maidstone Police Station on 01622 604258 or call Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

The following have been arrested in relation to this theft.

Four of the five suspects arrested in connection with the theft are aged between 28 and 37. The other suspect is in his 50s.