Appeal over gang robbery of Leeds sports store

Saturday, 2 February 2019 07:00

Police are appealing for witnesses following a burglary at a sports shop in Leeds.

At 8.15pm on Thursday 31 January police received several calls from members of the public reporting offenders targeting the JD Sports store at Kirkstall Bridge Shopping Park.

The store was closed at the time but staff were still inside. A number of offenders smashed the glass front door before stealing a large amount of clothing, mainly The North Face branded clothing. They loaded the items into a white Ford Transit van and drove off.

No threats were made to staff and no-one was injured.

Shortly after 8.30pm police received reports of the same van failing to stop after being involved in a road traffic collision with a grey Fiat Punto near the junction of Regent Street and New York Road. The driver of the Punto was not injured.

The van was found abandoned a short time later in Raincliffe Road, East End Park, with a large amount of the stolen clothing inside. The van has been identified as a stolen vehicle.

A 24-year-old man was arrested nearby in connection with the burglary and is currently in custody.

Detective Inspector Richard Holmes, of Leeds District CID, said: “We are carrying out extensive enquiries into this incident and would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the burglary itself, the road traffic collision involving the van in Regent Street, or who saw the van being abandoned in Raincliffe Road, East End Park.

“The shopping park was busy at the time this occurred and we are particularly keen to hear from anyone who filmed any part of the incident on their phones and has any footage that could assist the investigation.”

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