Detectives investigating a high-value burglary in York have released CCTV stills of three suspects.
The offenders are seen inside Rat Race, an outdoor sports equipment store based at Clifton Moor, where they stole between £50,000 and £70,000 of goods, including jackets, walking boots and expensive cycles.
The men, who are believed to be from Cheshire, gained access to the store by breaking into an office and forcing the warehouse door at around 7.30pm on Wednesday 9 February 2011.
Police believe the suspects spent around 90 minutes removing property from the warehouse and loading it into a white Ford Transit van.
Detectives have now traced the vehicle used in the burglary, after some items left behind at the scene were traced back to van which had been stolen from Pilow Farm Road, in Runcorn.
Detective Constable Kendra Bamber, of York CID, urged anyone who recognises the suspects to come forward.
She said: “We have reason to believe that the men captured on the store’s CCTV footage may come from the Cheshire area.
“The van they used during the burglary has been identified as being stolen in Runcorn, therefore it is possible that the suspects could be from that particular area of the country.
“The CCTV clearly shows the men inside the warehouse and I am hopeful that some one will be able to help us identify them.”
Among the items stolen in the raid were 5 Felt Q220 mountain bikes valued at £4000, 27 Haglof hiking jackets worth £5000, 44 Mountain Hardware jackets worth £6700, and over £1000 worth of rucksacks and walking boots.
Anyone who can help the police with their enquiries is urged to contact DC Kendra Bamber, of York CID, on 0845 60 60 24 7, quoting reference number 12110022524.
Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
