Workmen were threatened with a metal pipe as thousands of pounds worth of surveying equipment was stolen in Whitwick.

Thieves used an electric saw to break through a cable securing the equipment to a lamppost.

Leicestershire Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident which happened at around 12.30pm on

Monday (July 13) on Hermitage Road near to the junction with the A511.

A white transit van pulled up and it is reported that three men got out of the vehicle and approached two men working at the scene.

They dragged the equipment into the van before driving away from the scene in the direction of the A511.

One of the suspects used a metal pipe to threaten the workmen – but no injuries have been reported.

The stolen equipment is described as a Leica TS16 with a yellow tripod and red storage box. PC 2968 Chantrill is investigating.

He said: "This was a high-value robbery with the value of the stolen equipment worth several thousand pounds.

"We would like to speak to anyone who was in the area and saw the van or the incident itself.

"If you were driving along Hermitage Road at around this time and have a dashcam installed in your vehicle

we would like to hear from you.

"If you have any information about what happened or know who was responsible please get in touch."

Anyone with information can call 101 quoting crime reference number 20*358429.