Registration scheme traps Swindon thief

4:13pm Thursday 3rd April 2008

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A man arrested on drugs offences in Swindon was linked with another crime after he was found with a phone which had been registered with a tracing scheme.

Oofficers stopped and searched a 17-year-old youth from the town in the cycle underpass by Sheppard's Street in Swindon on Tuesday.

Following items found in the search he was arrested on suspicion of possessing Class A and Class C drugs.

The man was taken to Gablecross Police Station he was found to be in possession of a mobile phone which was registered on the Immobilise website to a different owner.

When officers contacted the registered owner it emerged that the phone had been stolen at the Oasis Leisure Centre on March 29. The man was subsequently arrested for theft of the mobile phone. He is currently on police bail pending further inquiries.

Immobilise is a secure online property register which allows people to register their items and identifies ownership of items of lost or stolen property. It is completely free .

Inspector Simon Message said: "Stop and search is an important power which helps officers to keep the streets safe. These officers stopped someone and were able to arrest him and take illegal substances off the streets which is a great result.

"This shows the benefits of the Immobilise scheme which allowed us to arrest the man for the theft of the phone and return the property to the owner promptly.

"I would encourage everyone with mobile phones and other valuable items to register them as it is free and will increase the chances of the item finding its way back to you if it is stolen."