THIEVES stole more than a dozen chest freezers from the back of a lorry in North Yorkshire, while the driver was asleep in his cab.

Selby police are investigating the crime, which saw 14 brand new Eurocold chest freezers stolen from the rear of a white DAF heavy goods vehicle which was travelling through the county on the way to Andover, earlier this month.

The driver pulled into a lay-by on the A1246 near to the junction of the A63 at about 10pm on Tuesday, May 10, and slept in his cab until about 5.30am on Wednesday, May 11.

When he woke up, he noticed the near-side curtain covering of the vehicle had been slashed in two places, and 14 of the freezers, worth about £1,400 in total, had been stolen.

PC Dave Fulford, of Sherburn in Elmet Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “I would like to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area at the time of the incident to get in touch.

“I would also be keen to speak to anyone who may have purchased one of these items recently or has been offered one for sale.”

The stolen freezers are white, 85cm high, similar in size to a standard fridge, and open from the top.

A police spokesman said all of the stolen freezers share the model number ITF102W, and the scale of the crime would probably have required the use of a large van or flat-backed truck, and at least two men to remove the items.

Anyone with information should contact PC Fulford on 0845 6060247, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.