HANDCUFFS, blue flashing lights and speed guns are just some of the items which were snatched by thieves from Cumbria police in hauls spanning five years.

In total thieves made away with £8,479.98 worth of property from the constabulary – the most valuable a £2,500 speed gun.

Forty-three items were stolen between 2005 and 2010 and a spokesman for Cumbria Police said: “An average of around five items of police property have been stolen every year since 2003.

“We investigate these in the same way that we would any other theft.

"These are low numbers of incidents, but we are keen to reduce this figure by ensuring our estate is properly secure and that our officers and staff are trained and aware of crime prevention tools.

“Many of these items are of no use to people outside the policing community, particularly the two Speed Indication Devices that were taken in 2007 and 2008."

If anybody has information about thefts of police property, call police on 0845 33 00 247.