This in from the Police, in their own words. Ed
A police investigation is underway into reports of two solar panels stolen from a solar farm on the outskirts of Newport on the Isle of Wight.
The panels were taken from a field near Birchmore Lane and the cycleway between Newport and Merstone.
The thefts are believed to have happened between 8.30pm on Saturday, July 30, 2011 and 10am on Sunday, July 31, 2011.
Warning issued through Country Watch
Police have carried out house-to-house enquiries in the local area and issued a warning through the force’s Country Watch database.
A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: “The first phase of the farm’s construction had just been completed with connection to the electricity grid in the past few days. We’re appealing for any witnesses who may have noticed people acting suspiciously near the solar farm at the weekend. It’s possible cyclists, pedestrians or horse riders using the area would have noticed something. We’d also like to hear from anyone with information about the whereabouts of the solar panels or the identity of suspects.”
Get in touch
Anyone with information is asked to contact the West Wight Safer Neighbourhoods team by phoning 101 or emailing [email protected]
From outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, call police on 0845 045 45 45. Mini-Com users can call the police on 01962 875000. Information can be given anonymously by calling the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
Police will also be making reassurance visits to other solar farms across the island to check and increase security wherever possible.
Isle of Wight Country Watch
The West Wight Safer Neighbourhoods team runs the Isle of Wight Country Watch project, which is the rural equivalent of Neighbourhood Watch. For more information, go online.
Country Watch’s purpose is to encompass all rural and remote communities on the island to encourage a greater exchange of information, which can stop and solve crimes swiftly and effectively. For example, descriptions of people and vehicles involved in suspicious behaviour.
Information can be shared with the police through a dedicated email address [email protected]. This email is in addition to the police’s main non-emergency phone numbers 101 and 0845 045 45 45. In a life threatening emergency, always dial 999. If people wish to remain anonymous, phone the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
