SPA residents are being urged to inform police if they are offered a laptop for sale after 125 of the portable computers were stolen from Hartlebury Trading Estate.

The laptops - worth £120,000 - were taken from TNT UK Ltd premises on the estate, near Droitwich.

TNT UK Ltd is a company which specialises in logistics, and the Hartlebury premises is one of their many parcel offices around the country. Now South Worcestershire police have issued an appeal to anyone offered an Acer or Toshiba computer from an unusual source to call 08457 444888, quoting reference 69C/250505.

A police spokesman said: "There is a strong likelihood that, sooner or later, these items will find their way on to an open market, probably in a number of ways and over a considerable area."

He added: "They may be offered discreetly in pubs and clubs or more openly at events like open-air markets and car-boot sales. Everyone should be aware they may be buying stolen property that could be confiscated.

"They will be far better off by keeping their money in their pockets and helping us with inquiries by providing crucial information."

The 92 Acer computers - valued at £90,000 - were taken from a lorry some time between May 21 and 24. The 32 Toshiba laptops, worth £30,000, were stolen on May 19. Both offences were reported to the police on May 25.