GBP 1 million worth of Xboxes hijacked in past week

Thieves have stolen over GBP 1 million worth of Xbox 360s in two separate hijacking incidents in the Midlands, UK.

A lorry load of Xbox 360s, worth GBP 750,000 was stolen on Wednesday, while a separate incident saw a truck with GBP 260,000 worth of consoles hijacked just days earlier, according to the Express and Star.

Road freight crime is an ongoing problem in the UK, and costs the economy up to GBP 1 billion per year.

Thieves are known to slash curtain-sided articulated lorries to steal goods or to trick drivers into pulling over before stealing the entire vehicle and threaten violence.

Police believe the Xbox 360s will be sold off cheap to punters looking for a pre-Christmas bargain. "They are in high demand and cost between GBP 200 and GBP 300," said Peter Stevens, spokesperson for Staffordshire Police.

"We are appealing for information from anyone offered them in suspicious circumstances, such as in a pub, at a car boot sale or off the back of a lorry."