An empty gun cabinet was found abandoned in a lay-by beside the main A49 at Ashton, north of Leominster, after thieves stole two shotguns from an address in town.
The early morning break-in happened at a house in Ryelands Road, when a cabinet was removed containing two 12-gauge shotguns, one a Miroku make, the other with side-by-side barrels of unknown make.
Inspector Pete Wilson, geographic commander for North Herefordshire, said: “Being in an agricultural community, we are used to seeing shotguns in daily use for work and leisure pursuits. But it is worrying when such weapons are stolen in a burglary, as we don’t know whether they were stolen for future criminal use or not.”
Police urge anyone who may have information on the burglary to come forward without delay. They would also like to speak to anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in A49 lay-bys in the Ashton area at around 5am on Sunday December 14.
Contact Dc Steve James at Leominster CID on 0300 333 3000 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
