A 31-YEAR-OLD man from the Ringwood area was arrested after police recovered suspected stolen fishing equipment and tools worth more than £20,000.

Dorset Police Rural Crime Team officers stopped a vehicle in the afternoon of July 4 in the Ringwood area after conducting intelligence-led patrols targeting Dorset offenders.

The man was a suspect for an investigation led by the team into the reported theft of a Land Rover Defender and a transit van in Dorset.

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Officers arrested the man and found a large amount of suspected stolen fishing equipment and tools following a search of his address.

Picture: Dorset Police Rural Crime Team

A police spokesperson said: “The fishing equipment located has been linked to a commercial burglary in the Southampton area, with a current estimated value of over £20,000.

“Enquiries are still ongoing into the tools located. With the assistance of our Hampshire police colleagues, all suspected stolen property was recovered for further enquiries.”

The man remains in police custody as investigations continue.

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